Dog owners in Christchurch pay some of the highest fees to register their pets, but it costs more to license a working dog in the capital than anywhere else.
Dog owners in Christchurch pay some of the highest fees to register their pets. Photo: zinkevych/123RF
A report to the Marlborough District Council, which has just voted to raise some of its fees, shows a large variation in what different councils charge dog owners around the country.
The standard cost of registering a de-sexed dog in Marlborough is set to rise to $60, but in Christchurch it's $125 in certain cases, the report said.
Also in Marlborough, a $45 fee will be introduced for older dogs and the fee to register a dangerous dog will go up to $140.
Working dogs, which include farm dogs, police dogs or disability-assist dogs, cost $52 to register in Wellington but $21 in the rural part of Waitaki.
Clarification: Christchurch City Council says the standard registration fee for the city is $80.00 for a neutered dog, a responsible dog owner fee for the first dog is $57.00 and then $39 for any subsequent dogs. RNZ reported at the weekend - from a report to the Marlborough District Council - the standard cost of registering a de-sexed dog in Marlborough is set to rise to $60, but in Christchurch it's $125 for a category 1 de-sexed dog.
Christchurch council says a fee of $124 would apply as a penalty to owners who fail to register a dog that is not desexed on time, and only after two reminder notices.
