Aucklanders have responded strongly to recent pre-infringement notices, with the number of dog registrations increasing by 4,407 over a two-week period.

The Auckland Council’s Animal Management team sent out 22,929 reminder notices to owners of 26,614 unregistered dogs.

This action has had a significant impact, boosting registrations and providing more accurate data on the dog population in the region.

Before the notices were sent, the Council recorded a total of 132,574 dogs in its database.

However, following the updates, 2,337 dogs were reported as deceased, sold, or relocated out of Auckland, bringing the total number of dogs down to 130,237.

Animal Management Manager, Elly Waitoa, acknowledged the overwhelming response from dog owners.

“The response has been staggering and very positive. The number of unregistered dogs in Auckland has reduced by 6,744 to 21,411. This has not only updated our records but also contributed significant revenue to support essential animal management services for the community.”

The registration drive generated NZD 767,349 in revenue in just two weeks.

This will support Auckland Council’s budget for maintaining public safety and managing animal welfare.

“We are pleased to see such a great response,” said Waitoa.

“Our goal is for all dog owners to register their pets, rather than face a NZD 300 fine as the next enforcement step.”

Councillor Josephine Bartley, Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, praised the initiative.

“We want to thank the dog owners who took action on these notices and remind them that continuing compliance helps maintain a safe and enjoyable community for everyone,” she said.

The Council noted that the highest response rates came from Auckland’s northern and southern regions.