Corangamite Shire residents are being reminded to pay overdue cat and dog registration fees.
Council Community Safety and Resilience Coordinator Belinda Bennett said all dogs and cats must be registered with Council and fees paid by 10 April each year.
“Registering and microchipping your animals is an essential part of responsible pet ownership,” Ms Bennett said.
“It is important to register your pets so if they are lost or stolen or stray, they can be returned home safely.”
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires dog and cat owners to microchip and register their animals that are three months of age or older with their local council.
“We currently have 3,641 dogs and cats registered in the Shire,” Ms Bennett said.
“While most pet owners have done the right thing and renewed their pet registration by 10 April, there are still some outstanding.”
Council Local Law Officers will commence inspections and door knocks in the next weeks and may issue fines to people who have not registered or renewed registration of their dogs and cats.
“Currently the infringement amount is $385 per animal.”
“In the past year we’ve issued 49 infringements for failure to renew registration and 17 for failing to register an animal”.
“Unpaid infringements are referred to court. In recent weeks, 15 infringements have gone to court and over $9,000 in fines and costs awarded by the court.”
Ms Bennett said people having difficulty paying their registrations could contact Council to discuss their needs and, if required, arrange a payment plan.
Pet owners must contact Council to update their pet’s registration if they have moved or their pet has passed away. To update your pet’s registration please contact Council’s community relations staff on 5593 7100.
Council encourages responsible pet ownership by providing a discounted registration fee for desexed pets.
Bring along the appropriate desexing documentation from your pet’s vet, along with your registration form, to get the discount.
