Masterton Council Hosts $10 Dog Microchipping Event

Masterton District Council is holding a subsidised dog microchipping event, offering microchipping for $10 per dog at its new animal shelter.

The one-day event runs on Thursday, 29 October 2026, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at 79 Ngaumutawa Road, Masterton.

Event Details

The $10 fee covers microchipping only, and both cash and EFTPOS are accepted on the day. Owners can simply pop into the shelter with their dog during opening hours.

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades — the council describes it as a simple procedure, just like a vaccination. The chip carries a number unique to the dog and works much like a supermarket barcode: it is a transponder that responds to a scanner, not a transmitter, and has no power source.

According to the council, microchipping helps identify a pet if it goes missing, and microchipped pets are more likely to make it home than those that are not chipped. Most animal centres use microchip scanners, making it a universal way of checking a pet's identity.

Which Dogs Must Be Microchipped

The council notes that microchipping is a legal requirement under the Dog Control Act 1996. On its dog owner obligations page, it lists the following:

• First-time registrations: All dogs registered for the first time must be microchipped within two months of registration (working farm dogs are exempt).
• Menacing and dangerous classifications: A dog classified as dangerous or menacing must be microchipped within two months of being classified.
• Impounded dogs: Dogs that are unregistered and get impounded will be microchipped, as will registered dogs that are impounded twice.

What This Means for Local Dog Owners

Owners in the Masterton district whose dogs are not yet chipped — or who have a newly registered dog due for chipping — can use the 29 October event to get it done for $10. Outside the event, the council says its animal services staff can microchip dogs by appointment.

For more on council registration requirements, see our guide to dog registration in NZ.

Sources

• https://www.mstn.govt.nz/community/events/whats-on-in-masterton?item=id%3A2zoo4toie17q9sdumcdo
• https://www.mstn.govt.nz/rules-regulations-and-licenses/animal-services/dogs/dog-owner-obligations