Doggone

App update – 30 June

Version 2 of the the Doggone App will be released on Sunday 30 June. You may not be able to download or use the app until then. For more information go to the Doggone website.

We’re pleased to be able to offer Doggone to you as part of the 2019/2020 dog registration period.

Hutt City Council recently undertook a three-month trial with Doggone – a new technology to help reunite lost dogs with their owners. 

What is Doggone?

Doggone links a Bluetooth registration tag with the free Doggone App. The App has a profile of your dog on it that you (the owner) creates on the App. 

The tag acts as a beacon (sending a signal out every five seconds) and the App acts as a receiver. The tag has your dog’s Council registration number on one side, and details of a free text service that can also be used to help reunite you with your lost dog. By texting your dog’s registration number to 4133, the person who has found your dog will get an notification with the emergency contact number that you provided when creating your dog’s profile.

Whenever a dog wearing the Doggone registration tag comes in within 60 metres of a phone with the Doggone App on it, a sighting of the dog is automatically created. 

All sightings are stored in the Cloud for future reference by you, the dog owner, or Animal Management. If you mark your dog as lost, these sightings are shown as a notification on the App giving you a breadcrumb trail of your dog’s recent whereabouts, helping you to find your lost pooch!

Why should I use it?

Doggone is a useful tool to help keep your dog safe and to help you quickly find your dog in the event that it escapes from the safety of home or runs off when you’re out and about.

How much is it?

Doggone costs $24.35 plus GST for the full registration year, from July 2019 – July 2020.

This fee covers the Doggone registration tag, the free App and access to the free text service.

How do I sign up?

When you receive your 2019-2020 dog registration invoice, Doggone will be added to your normal registration fee.

If you like the look of Doggone, pay the total amount and you will receive your new Doggone Bluetooth registration tag together with the easy set up guide on payment of your invoice.  Payment can be made on-line, by post or in person at Hutt City Council office or Animal Services.

If you’re not interested select the price excluding Doggone and you will simply receive a yellow plastic dog registration tag or registration strip as per previous years.

Why is Hutt City Council using it?

Hutt City Council, in partnership with Doggone, conducted a 3-month trial in Stokes Valley of the App and tags.

The purpose of the trial was to:

• get feedback on the technology for dog owners,
• test the technology, iron out any bugs, and to enhance it based on user-experience,
• evaluate it as a tool to help dog owners reunite lost dogs and keep the community safe.

Results of the post-trial survey were positive about the value Doggone provides to dog owners.

• 98% of those surveyed downloaded the App, with 96% creating a profile for their dog in the App (a Virtual ID)
• 80% of those surveyed used the App and 67% participated in the test scenarios
• 93% of those surveyed said that there was a need for a service like Doggone
• 84% of those surveyed said that Doggone should be included in annual dog registration.

Compatibility and privacy

The Doggone App is compatible with iPhone and Android devices and the ID you create for your dog on the App is password protected.  Doggone is fully compliant with NZ Privacy Law.

Want to know more?

Check out the Doggone website.