Dog Control Act 1996

Registration and registration fees

50: Dog not wearing proper label or disc may be impounded

You could also call this:

"Dogs must wear a registration label or disc, or they might be taken away."

If you have a dog over 3 months old, it must wear a collar with a current registration label or disc. If your dog is found without this label or disc on someone else's land, in a public place, or on premises that are not yours, a dog control officer or dog ranger can seize and impound your dog. The person in charge of the land or public place can also seize your dog and give it to a dog control officer or dog ranger to be impounded.

If someone else is with your dog, no one can seize it. A dog control officer or dog ranger cannot enter someone's land or premises without their permission, unless it is a public place. You can find more information about this by looking at the Compare section, which refers to 1982 No 42 s 47, but for now, just remember to keep your dog's registration label or disc up to date to avoid any issues.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 19 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM375190.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyHousing and property > Land use

49: Transfer of dog from one address or district to another, or

"Telling the council when you move your dog to a new home"

51: Offences relating to collars, labels, and discs, or

"Breaking the rules about dog identification tags and collars can get you in trouble with the law"

50Dog not wearing proper label or disc may be impounded

Where any dog over the age of 3 months not wearing a collar having a current registration label or disc attached is found on any land or premises other than the land or premises of the owner of the dog, or any such dog is found in any public place,—
any dog control officer or dog ranger may seize and impound the dog; or
the occupier or person in charge of the land, premises, or public place may seize the dog and deliver it to the custody of a dog control officer or dog ranger for impounding.

Nothing in this section shall authorise any person to seize any dog that is under the control of any other person.
Nothing in this section shall authorise any dog control officer or dog ranger to enter on any land or premises other than a public place without the consent (express or implied) of the occupier or person in apparent charge of the land or premises.

Compare

1982 No 42 s 47