Rural Tararua dog owners face fee hike

Under the Tararua District Council draft plan, a "domestic dog", whether urban or rural, will have a $65 registration fee, while a working dog will be $25.

The Eketahuna Community Board has questioned the logic of ditching the "rural domestic dog" category from Tararua District Council's fee section of its Draft Long Term Plan.

In the board's minutes this month, the board formally opposed the change in fee structure for dogs.

At present, a "working dog" and "rural domestic dog" incur identical fees, of $25 for registration, while an "urban domestic dog" has a $78 registration fee.

Under the council's draft plan, "domestic dog" becomes a stand-alone category, whether urban or rural.

A domestic dog will have a $65 registration fee, while a working dog remains at $25.

The board said this would have an impact on the rural community.

It said the dog fees, which funded council animal control operations, should better reflect where costs for animal control were being incurred.

Consultation closed on May 8, with submissions now being reviewed.