Why You Should Register Your Dog and Cat

Why should you register your dog and your cat? It’s easy to think this is only for the fancy purebreds, but in New Zealand pet registration is a legal requirement – for dogs, at least. This means if you own a dog as a companion animal, it must be registered with your council.

Although not legally required for cats, registering them to you is a great idea.

And, whether required by law or not, getting your pet microchipped is a must-have too in our opinion.

Why? The main reason for rules around registration and microchipping are to help recover your animal if it goes missing or gets stolen. Dogs and cats escape from their homes, while out walking with their owner and in other situations all the time. And with stolen dogs in New Zealand a growing problem these days, it makes even more sense.

Are there any other benefits to registering your dog and cat? How does it work? And how do you use the companion animal register in New Zealand? Find out here all about the right channels to register your pet.

Why is it important to register your dog?

As mentioned above, registering your dog is a legal requirement. It’s important to follow the legislation because registration (with the companion animal register) is a simple way for your council to identify the owners of any given dog.

It might seem unfair to pay a fee, but Kiwi dog owners should know this fee also benefits them. The exact fee and how it’s used depends on the area. However, it often goes towards funding local dog control, as well as facilities like dog parks.

How do I register my dog?

In most places, you can register your dog online and the registration tag will be posted to you. Simply search Google for your council and ‘dog registration’ and the correct website link with applicable forms should pop up.

First time you’re registering your dog? You’ll need to provide proof of microchipping and their spay or neuter procedure, if applicable.  

If you prefer the traditional way, you can also go to your local council office to register your dog.

What’s the New Zealand companion animal register?

It isn’t legally required to register your pet with the Companion Animal Register in NZ. However, it is a good idea. You can register any companion animal via their website, not just dogs and cats.

This way, your horse, bird, rabbit, or other pet can be identified if they go missing or get stolen. With thunderstorms, fireworks, floods, and fires in regular rotation in NZ, there are plenty of reasons an animal might get spooked or lost and end up separated from their owners. (Read more about what to do if you find a lost pet in a fire or flood. You may just end up being the reason they’re reunited with their owners!)

If your pet is registered with the NZ Companion Animal Register and their microchip is scanned by an approved agent, they can help get your pet back to you. Did you know they even have facial recognition software that can search and identify a found animal from hundreds of thousands of records? Amazing!

It’s the biggest pet ownership database in New Zealand. In our opinion, it’s also well worth the $15 fee*, which covers your animal’s access for life. Additionally, it’s a not-for-profit association. So the profits from the dog (or other animal) registration fee are used to promote animal welfare – a cause which is close to our hearts.

Microchips and registration

Unfortunately, collars and ID tags aren’t fail-safe. Microchipping provides a permanent, long-term solution. If your details are up to date, anyone who scans your dog’s microchip will be able to contact you, wherever your dog ends up in NZ.

We’ve rounded up all the FAQs about dog microchips in our detailed article. This covers everything from how long the procedure takes to laws around microchips in New Zealand. But know that if you microchip your dog and register them (with your council and with the companion animal register) you stand a much better chance of finding them if they do go missing than if they weren’t microchipped.

In the end, it’s all about being a responsible pet parent.

What else should I know about registering my dog?

Remember if you move or change your phone number, you should update the details in the NZ Companion Animal Register accordingly. You can do this online via their website easily. And if you adopt a dog from a shelter, they’re often microchipped already. Ensure that the dog register details are updated to reflect you as the new owner, alongside your contact details.

It’s also a good idea to check the microchip every so often to make sure it’s working. Your vet can do this easily and quickly when your pup goes for their regular vaccinations or check-ups. Then you can check your dog registration details are correct and up to date too.

And of course, know that having pet insurance can ease the burden of a lost or missing pet too. Not only can you afford emergency medical treatment when your pet is found, but you’ll also know you can afford to head to the vet if needed during times of illness and injury – even when your pet is at home and in sight.

*at the time of writing