This page gives you information about impounded dogs and adopting an impounded dog.
How to get your impounded dog released
If you have been notified or believe that your dog is in the pound you will need to:
- go to the DCC Customer Services Centre to view pound dog photos and confirm that it is your dog
- phone us on 03 477 4000 so we can calculate your release fees and complete your payment online. You can also visit us at the Customer Services Centre.
Your dog may need to be microchipped or registered before it can be released – we will discuss this with you at the time of payment.
Collecting your dog
When you pay your release fees, we will provide you with a map to the pound. Please take your payment receipt with you to pick up your dog.
Please ensure you allow for time to make payment and travel to pound – you must be at the pound during release times to be able to pick up dog.
The release times are:
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am-10am and 4pm-5pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 4pm-5pm.
When you arrive to pick up your pet, go to the pound office and wait for the staff to arrange for your dog to be released.
You have seven days to claim your dog from our pound. If a dog is not claimed by its owner, then the DCC takes responsibility for the dog.
Can I adopt a dog from the DCC pound?
Yes. There are some stages:
- Please visit the Customer Services Centre in the Civic Centre, or check the Public Notices - Impoundings, to view a photo of the dog.
- If you wish to visit the dog, you can make an appointment using the online form below or through Customer Services. We will check that is it a suitable dog for adoption.
- We will discuss the adoption fee with you. This fee includes registration and microchipping – check the Animal Services Fees.
- Call us back seven days after the dog was impounded to ensure it is still available.
- We will send an animal control officer to do a property inspection and if all is OK, the dog will be put on our neutering list. This is one of the conditions of adoption.
- If the dog is still available and you have had your inspection and paid the fee, you will be able to collect your new pet and your new owner pack.