Kāpiti council forced to offer new dog tags following owners' complaints

5:22 pm on 3 October 2022
A Wellington dog donning a new, longer lasting metal dog tag.

Wellington City Council also switched to longer lasting metal dog tags in 2021. File photo. Photo: Supplied / Wellington City Council

Only a few months after Kāpiti's dog registration tags were replaced with an eco-friendly metal alternative, they are being replaced again - this time, with recycled plastic.

Kāpiti Coast District Council environmental standards manager Jacquie Muir said dog owners found several problems with the aluminium tags, including the noise created by tinkling metal and information rubbing off.

The council was now offering free alternatives, this time made in New Zealand from recycled plastic.

The tags were initially switched to anodised aluminium, designed to last a dog's lifetime and remove the need to issue more than 8000 plastic tags each year.

"They are guaranteed for five years but expected to last longer, and any that need replacing can be recycled by the manufacturer," Muir said.

"If your new metal tag is working well and you are happy with it there is no need to do anything."

Replacement tags had already been ordered and would be available in the coming weeks.

To request one, people should visit a council service centre, call 0800 486 486, or raise a service request at kapiticoast.govt.nz.