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Latrobe set to deliver centralised animal servicesLatrobe City is centralising its animal facilities with the aim of providing a streamlined service including returning registered animals to their owners. By Latrobe City Council - 31st August 2006 - Back to News Latrobe City chief executive officer, Paul Buckley said that services currently provided from the leased Moe pound are now being provided from the central animal facility in Morwell and services currently provided from the Traralgon pound will be relocated to the central facility at the end of September.
"By having a central facility, local laws staff will be able to monitor the welfare of animals that have been impounded from across the municipality at the one location in a more effective manner and in hygienic, purpose-built surroundings," Mr Buckley said.
"In a new initiative, animals that have been found at large, which are registered and microchipped, will be returned direct to their owners by local laws officers, provided the owner can be contacted and is home to accept the animal. This means that the owners no longer have to go to the pound themselves to collect their pets.
"Once the animal has been returned home, the officer will issue the infringement notice, so a fine will still be incurred for allowing an animal to wander at large. However, this new initiative will certainly make the process of returning impounded animals more efficient and less stressful for both animal and owner," Mr Buckley explained.
Latrobe’s acting coordinator local laws, Steve Wright, explained that council had also purchased the latest generation microchip scanners which have a greater capacity to accurately detect microchips in impounded animals, and officers have undertaken relative training.
"No microchip scanner is one hundred per cent guaranteed to pick up a microchip in an animal. These new scanners and operating procedures, however, do go a long way towards improving the detection rate of microchips," Mr Wright explained.
"We urge all pet owners to consider having their animal microchipped to increase the chance of our being able to reunite owner and pet in the event that the pet is found wandering.
"Animals that are impounded are photographed, with their image placed in the impound register’s photo gallery on council’s website within 24 hours, or early on the first working day of the week, if the animal has been impounded over the weekend," Mr Wright said.
"This webpage service has been an overwhelming success since it was introduced earlier in the year. The impound register photo gallery has over 6000 hits each month and local laws officers have been able to quickly reunite many animals with their owners.
"This facility is also useful for those people who may be considering adopting an animal. They can view the images in the gallery before going to the facility to actually meet the animal, should it become available for rehousing," Mr Wright added.
"Whilst the centralised animal facility is a positive step forward for the provision of animal services in Latrobe City, we do hope that residents will embrace the responsibility that comes with pet ownership and ensure that their animals are registered, microchipped and securely housed," Mr Buckley concluded.
The central animal facility is located at the municipal depot in Driffield Road, Morwell. Hours of operation are 8.30am to 5pm weekdays by appointment. The local laws team are available on 1300 367 700. Council’s impound register is available online at www.latrobe.vic.gov.au.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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