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Keeping Animals In Check

With over 12,000 dogs and 8,000 cats in the Shire, managing domestic pets is a major task. In 2009, Bass Coast Shire Council adopted the Domestic Animal Management Plan, which outlined a clear approach

By news@gippsland - 4th March 2011 - Back to News

to pet management, including promoting responsible pet ownership.

Community Safety Manager, Philippa O’Halloran, said that an animal census audit recently undertaken in Wonthaggi was one aspect of the approach.

"The audit was completed in direct response to regular customer complaints about dogs roaming the area or an excessive number of pets at people’s properties," explained Mrs O’Halloran.

"We employed professional auditors, Bartels, Taylor & Associates, to do the audit in the Wonthaggi and Dudley areas. They worked in teams and door-knocked every property to look for unregistered animals.

"They look for animals or evidence that an animal is kept on the property and check that against our pet registration data," Mrs O’Halloran said.

"The auditors talk to residents about the purpose of the audit. If no one is home, they leave a letter for the owners advising that an audit was undertaken and outlining their responsibility to register their pets."

Mrs O’Halloran said the auditors found residents very cooperative and enthusiastic about the process.

"The feedback we’ve received is they were pleased Council is dealing with unregistered pets in the area," reported Mrs O’Halloran.

"Our plan is to make the audit an annual event, covering different areas of the Shire each year.

"Hopefully this audit will increase the community’s awareness of the importance of registering your pets."

By law, all cats and dogs older than three months must be microchipped and registered with Council. Animal Registration is due before 10 April.

"We send out a renewal reminder to owners and registration forms can be downloaded from our website," said Mrs O’Halloran.

"Renewals and new registrations can be paid at our Customer Service Centres or mailed in.

"Having your pet registered really does provide peace of mind. A lost pet that is registered and microchipped can quickly and easily be united with their owners.

"It is an important part of being a responsible pet owner," stressed Mrs O’Halloran.

 

For more information contact:

Eleanor McKay

communications coordinator

t (03) 5671 2296 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0407 557 620

e e.mckay@basscoast.vic.gov.au


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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