Pet owners want better value for licence

Council needs to do more for responsible dog owners, Grange Spa Canine Resort owner Melissa Hartley says.

More than 1000 dog owners who have not registered their pets can expect a visit from Tauranga City Council next month and a $300 fine if their pet remains unregistered.

However, disgruntled dog owners in the city who have already complied told the Bay of Plenty Times they get very little for registering their dog.

Figures show in 2014/15, council collected $875,083 in dog registration fees for 11,208 dogs compared to $715,447 in 2013/14 for 10,557 dogs. In the 2015 year-to-date 10,473 dogs had been registered and it estimated 1172 were unregistered.

Animals and enforcement leader Brent Lincoln said registration fees were used to fund activity including complaints and employ 6.5 fulltime equivalent animal control staff.

In 2014/15 it investigated 4300 complaints. This was up from 4080 in 2013/14 and the majority were for barking and roaming dogs while there were 340 cases of dogs attacking domestic animals in the past three years.

It had also launched five prosecutions in relation to dog attacks on people or domestic animals in 2014/15 and impounded 988 dogs, he said.

"The fact we have to prosecute at all is a concern as most prosecutions relate to either serious attacks or repeat offenders."

It was also not unusual to have outstanding dog registrations, he said, as about 45 per cent would have moved with no forwarding address.

Grange Spa Canine Resort owner Melissa Hartley said 90 per cent of clients believed dog registrations were overpriced.

"They don't get anything for it and basically get punished for being a good dog owner. I think animal control does a great job ... but council could make more of an effort."

Poo bags and bins should be provided by the council at dog-friendly parks, she said.

Tauranga show dog breeder Bronwynne Excell had six Pomeranians and two Rottweilers that she paid about $680 to register.

Lower dog fees for responsible dog owners should be introduced, she said.

Meanwhile, Western Bay of Plenty District Council had 8192 dogs registered in 2015 compared to 8182 in 2014.

It estimated it had about 1000 unregistered dogs and it would be visiting owners.

Labradors the most common

Tauranga residents love labrador retrievers. As of June 30, Tauranga City Council had registered 1569 labradors - 880 more than the second most popular breed, fox terriers.

Maltese were third most popular, Staffordshire bull terriers fourth, and Jack Russell terriers fifth. There was plenty of variety in names, with 3572 different names registered at the end of the financial year.

Max was the most popular for a male and Bella was most popular for females.Tauranga labrador breeder Faye Wright of Truffleland Labradors said the breed's versatility ensured their popularity.

"They can be a family dog, a hunting dog or a therapy dog," she said."Their natures are very adaptable. If there are any children around, they'll be very gentle. If they're with a hunter, they become robust."

Labradors were also easy to train, she said.

Labradors were also the most commonly registered dog with the New Zealand Kennel Club.

Registered Dogs

Tauranga City Council

* 2015 year to date - 10,473 dogs
* 2014/15 - 11,208 dogs
* 2013/14 10,557 dogs

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

* 2015 - 8192 dogs
* 2014 - 8182 dogs
* 2013 - 8122 dogs