• What do I need to know?
• Dogs required to be microchipped
• What is a menacing or dangerous dog?
• What is in a microchip?
• Do I still have to register my dog as well as have it microchipped?
• What classifies a working dog?
• Good Reasons to Microchip your Dog

• a new puppy (except if it is to be a working dog); or
• a dog that has never been registered in New Zealand; or
• a dog that has been classified dangerous or menacing on or after 1 December 2003

Then you must do the following:

• Puppy or dog registered for the first time:
  Microchip within one month of registration (first registration occurs before new puppies are three months old, or straight away if your new dog is older than three months and unregistered).
   
• Menacing or dangerous dog:
  Microchip within two months of being classified, (or by 1 September 2006, if classified between 1 December 2003 and 30 June 2006).

This means that current registered dogs will not need a microchip unless they are classified as menacing or dangerous, or are impounded twice.

2. Dogs registered for the first time after 1 July 2006.

3. Registered dogs impounded for the second time after 1 July 2006.

4. Unregistered and impounded dogs after 1 July 2006.

Once your dog is microchipped, Council must be sure that the microchip meets the regulations and has been inserted correctly. This will involve taking a certificate from your vet, back to Council for verification.

• Brazilian Fila
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• American Pit Bull Terrier

1. Finding lost or stolen dogs – if a beloved dog is lost or stolen, it can be matched to its owner instantly and reunited. Every year thousands of dogs are euthanized. The main reason is that an owner can not be located.
2. Proving ownership - even when your lost or stolen dog is found there is no way to prove that it is your dog unless it is microchipped as even some ear brands are not identifiable
3. Proving identity – offenders try to claim that the dog in their possession is a different dog (to avoid the consequences of a previous history).
4. Cost - it is a one-off cost and is a relatively inexpensive mechanism for identifying your dog. Many dog owners have already voluntarily micro-chipped their dogs.
5. Tracking your dogs birthday - microchipping will enable you to keep track of your dogs birthday.
6. Notification of transfers – Dogs can now be more easily tracked.
7. The National Dog Database is continuously up-dated through local Council records. Other databases rely on the dog owners to update any changes.
8. Improved dog control - effective dog control means improved community safety as microchipping and the National Dog Database will help dog control officers identify dog owners who don’t properly care for their dogs or allow their dogs to roam. It will also be much easier for dog control officers to keep track of dangerous and menacing dogs as they move around the country.