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Council encourages pet paw-rents to avoid barking up the wrong tree

Western Downs Regional Council

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With many Western Downs households welcoming new furry and feathered friends to their families over the Christmas period, Council is encouraging residents to take advantage of educational resources and ensure that their pets don’t have to ‘ruff’ it.

A new, fun, informative video is joining Council’s existing suite of educational resources, helping pet owners to avoid cat-astrophe, and providing simple strategies to ensure that their animals are safe, happy, and healthy. Topics cover everything from registration and microchipping requirements, to providing appropriate food, shelter, and toys to prevent barking and wandering.

Councillor Andrew Smith, Spokesperson for Planning, Environment and Agribusiness said that it’s the people – and pets – that make it on the Western Downs, and we all had a responsibility to make sure that they were properly cared for.

“It’s not uncommon to feel a bit like a fish out of water when we get a new pet. That’s why we’ve compiled a collection of resources to make it simple for our residents to brush up on the basics of owning a pet in the Western Downs,” Cr Smith said.

“We love our pets here in the Western Downs – they help add fun and friendship to our active, vibrant communities. With our newest video we really wanted to engage with the region’s youth and give them a strong foundation for responsible animal ownership, now and into the future.

“By being responsible pet owners, we’re not only ensuring happier, healthier pets, but also happier, healthier communities that everyone can enjoy, whether you’re a pet owner or not.

“We think our refreshed animal ownership resources are the bee’s knees. I encourage everyone, whether you’ve recently adopted your first pet, or you’ve had animal companions for years, to take the opportunity to check them out and help make sure your furry friends stay happy and healthy in their fur-ever home.”

Access the responsible pet ownership educational resources at

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