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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Lost, found and adoption

Adopt a dog from one of our pounds


Lost or found dogs

If you have lost a dog please contact our team at 0800 492 452 during office hours, 8am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-5pm Friday. From there we will look through our pound register to see any anything matches the description.

If you have found a dog, call us anytime on 0800 492 452, our Animal Control team will collect the dog and work to reunite our four-legged friend with their owner.

For more information check out our Pound information page. 

Adopting a dog

Adopting a dog is a life altering decision that should not be taken lightly. We'd like to match every dog with the most suitable family or owner. Consider your personal circumstances before taking on the responsibility of owning a dog.

Available for adoption

You can check out our Waikato Pound Pups Facebook page to see what dogs are available for adoption from our pound.

Waikato Pound Pups Facebook


Please private message our team on Facebook in the first instance, or chat to one of our Animal Control Officers by phoning 0800 492 452. They will chat to you about the available dogs and arrange a time for you to visit the pound.

Dogs are available to view by appointment only at our Ngaaruawaahia Pound, open Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm. Closed weekends and public holidays.

How to adopt a dog

Dogs are adopted out to responsible new owners only and checks will be made in relation to prospective owners and the suitability of their property, prior to an adoption being approved.

We reserve the right to make a decision on the most suitable home for any dog available for adoption.

Some people may not 'qualify' for being able to adopt a dog. The criteria that would possibly prevent you from being able to adopt a dog from the Council are:

  • Previous non-registration history.
  • Numbers of existing dogs on the property, e.g. in a permit controlled zone.
  • Property unsuitable for the dog.
  • Previous history with regard to a substantiated offences of such things as straying, nuisance barking, impounded dog etc. 

The criteria that would prevent you from being able to adopt a dog from the Council are:

Our adoption fee is $300 and covers:

  • De-sexing(at 6 months of age),
  • Microchipping
  • Registration with Waikato District Council
  • Fleaing and worming
  • One canine parvovirus vaccination before adoption

Last updated 28 January 2025, 04:06 pm

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