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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.
 

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.

We have two dog pound locations, one in Ngaruawahia and the other in Pukekohe.

Dogs are available to view by appointment only, call ahead to chat to one of our animal control officers first before your visit - freephone 0800 492 452.

For pricing information including impoundment costs, please refer to our fees and charges page.

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.

Get in touch with us to 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. You can also check out our Waikato Pound Pups Facebook page to see what dogs are available for adoption from our pound.

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:

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