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Make proper arrangements for pets this Christmas

Latrobe City Council has urged existing and new pet owners to ensure they have made suitable arrangements to accommodate their pets’ needs over the summer break.

By Latrobe Shire Council - 23rd December 2004 - Back to News

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Bruce Lougheed, said that the welfare of animals should be high on people’s Christmas priorities.

"Whilst the Christmas period may mean frequent car journeys, or overnight stays to meet the demands of family arrangements, and summer holidays can mean long periods away from your home, it is not always possible to take your pet with you. If you are going away, please make sure you have made suitable arrangements for the accommodation of your animals," Cr Lougheed said.

Latrobe City’s Manager, Local Laws, Peter Fraser, said that if pets cannot be left with a family member or friend, there are boarding kennels and pet sitting services in the Valley that can be a useful alternative. "However, if you have not already made arrangements, it may be difficult to book accommodation at the last minute. It is advisable to telephone kennels as soon as possible to check availability over the holiday period.

"If leaving your pet with neighbours or friends, it is also a good idea to trial the arrangements prior to your leaving, just in case the pet is able to escape or becomes very unsettled in your absence. Ensuring that your pet is familiar with its temporary surroundings is an important step to making sure the stay will be as comfortable as possible," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said that it was not just domestic animals that need to be looked after during trips away.

"If you are on a rural property with stock in the paddocks, please ask a neighbour to check on the animals regularly. It’s vital that fences are checked and animals continue to have access to feed and water," Mr Fraser said.

"The old adage that a pet is for life and not just for Christmas is still true. If you are giving a kitten, puppy or other animal as a gift this year, please remember that the cute stage doesn’t last long, and the tiny puppy will become a full grown dog which will need training, grooming, feeding and exercising. A pet requires time, patience and love and cannot be put away with the other presents once the novelty has worn off," Mr Fraser warned.

Mr Fraser added that the Victorian government had recently introduced new legislation regarding the registration of pets.

"The age for registering new pets has been changed from six months to three months. The idea is to encourage early registration to improve the chances of a lost animal being reunited with its owner. The reduction in registration age may also increase the early desexing of animals, to take advantage of the reduced rate fee for registration. This would also prevent many unwanted litters ending up in Council pounds," Mr Fraser explained.

The reduced registration fee also applies to microchipped pets and not exclusively to desexed animals.

"Puppies and kittens can be registered at Council service centres from the age of three months. Please register your animal at the earliest opportunity," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser added that while Council’s service centres are closed from 12 noon Friday 24 December to 8.30am Tuesday 4 January, for the holiday period, Council’s local laws team will still be responding to emergencies and lost or stray animal calls. The emergency number is 0408 512 953. "We will also be on duty to see that any animals that are impounded receive their Christmas dinner," Mr Fraser concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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