Pipi the fox terrier looking for her owner

Pipi, the black-and-white wire-haired fox terrier is trying to get home - she's been lost and found, rehabilitated by a kennel owner and is now in the pound.

Max Patmoy who operates White Bay Kennels was given Pipi in December by a member of the public who found her in a forest by Eskdale. He wanted to reunite her with her owner but has been dogged by bureaucratic red tape.

"The thing was starving, its ribs were showing and I kept her for a month just feeding her up."

Mr Patmoy said he found out the dog's microchip number from a local vet and hoped that the Napier or Hastings District Council would help him find the owner.

He was told the dog's name and that it was registered to someone originally living near Eskdale kennels, but who had since moved to Hastings and had not kept up with the registration.

He was frustrated that the council would not contact the owner nor tell him details so he could find the owner himself.

"I have a message on my cellphone from Hastings Council on December 14 saying they would come over and look into it and I've had to wait another month, so I had to give them a shake-up."

Animal control officers finally collected Pipi on Monday and she was taken to the Hastings pound.

However, Hastings District Council communications manager Ross Holden said the council is not legally able to release information on the ownership of animals to the public as that would be a breach of privacy.

"Our animal control officers are trying to contact the registered owner but so far there has been no reply to phone calls and a letter has been sent to the owners advising them of the location of the dog," Mr Holden said.

Mr Patmoy said the council told him it would cost the owner $350 to take the dog from the pound and he is worried that Pipi will be put down if the owner is not found or cannot afford to pay.

"They're only legally obliged to keep a dog for five days. If the worst comes to the worst I'll pay to have the dog released and find the owner myself."