Tauranga City Council’s Animal Services team is celebrating several successful dog-owner reunions, all made possible through microchipping, with one story especially touching.
In August, a dog was brought into the pound after being abandoned in Tauranga. It was soon discovered that he had been missing from Auckland since November 2024.
Despite the long separation, the microchip proved crucial in reuniting him with his owner. The team was able to contact the owner using the current details linked to the chip, resulting in an emotional reunion after nearly nine months apart.
Other dogs reunited include one from Welcome Bay and one in Te Kuiti.
Brent Lincoln, team leader of Animal Services, says reuniting dogs with their families is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“Microchips give us the information we need to act quickly and accurately. We encourage all dog owners to make sure their pets are microchipped and that their contact details are kept up to date.”
Mayor Mahé Drysdale, a dog lover himself, knows how deeply pets become part of the family.
“The work our Animal Services team is doing to reunite lost dogs with their owners is nothing short of heartwarming. Stories like this one remind us how important it is to microchip our pets.”
To make microchipping accessible for the Tauranga community, you can get your dog microchipped at the dog pound. Dog owners can bring their dogs in to be microchipped at a low cost, helping ensure more dogs can be safely returned if they go missing.
Microchip your dog:
Where: Tauranga City Dog Pound, 88 Hewletts Road (opposite the Z petrol station).
When: During opening hours, Monday: 9am – 4.30pm. Tues-Fri: 2pm-4.30pm.
Cost: $33
By appointment only. To make an appointment, call 07 577 7000 and ask to speak to the Animal Services team at the pound.