Kaitaia dogs queue to be chipped

A wet, muddy day did nothing to deter scores of dog owners from accepting the Far North District Council's offer of free microchipping, and for some, neutering, in Kaitaia on Friday.

The Far North District Council's inaugural 'chip and snip' day for dogs in Kaikohe was much more successful than anticipated, but Kaitaia did even better on Friday.

Two hundred and forty dogs were microchipped free, many of them also being signed up for free neutering. That number was not available yesterday, but the council was delighted with the response.

The turnout was even more impressive, given that Friday was cold and wet. Some brief thought had been given to postponing, but with everything ready to go it was decided to carry on regardless of the conditions. The dog's didn't seem to mind, and their owners seemed equally cheerful.

The more 'boisterous' dogs were ushered towards the front of the queue, while their more relaxed counterparts patiently awaited their turn.

Council compliance manager Darren Edwards said the response to the dog days showed that owners wanted to do the right thing, while the whole community benefited.

"We want all dog owners to be responsible, but we know that costs, even one-off costs like microchipping and neutering, can pose a barrier," he said.

"By helping with those costs, this programme makes everyone in the district safer, because neutered dogs are less likely to wander, and less likely to attack people or other animals."