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Protect Your Pet, Prevent A FineLosing your beloved animal companion can be upsetting, but if your pet is registered and microchipped, your dog or cat has a much higher chance of being returned to you if it ends up in an animal shelter or vet clinic.
By Bass Coast - 13th August 2014 - Back to News In the last 12 months, two out of three animals impounded with Council have been reunited with their owners due to being registered and microchipped.
Bass Coast Shire Council’s Acting Community and Economic Development Director, Antoinette Mitchell, said not only does legislation require all cats and dogs to be registered in their municipality under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, but registering your pet also pays for numerous animal related services.
"Registering your pet not only helps Council employ staff to attend nuisance complaints, but also assists with investigating dog attacks and patrol the Shire," Ms Mitchell said.
"It also enables Council to also operate its pound, return stray animals to their owners and manage dangerous and restricted breeds."
Ms Mitchell said registering and microchipping animals can also prevent their owners from receiving large fines should their dog or cat end up at the pound.
"Fines can range from around $100 to $300, including an additional fee for every day your pet is kept at the pound, and $295 fine if your pet isn’t registered," Ms Mitchell said.
"If your pet is registered, you may receive a warning, but if it isn’t a first offence, you may receive a fine in excess of $200.
"We would rather see people doing the right thing and keeping their pets secure at home than having to pay these fines."
Ms Mitchell said a common misconception is that Council puts down healthy animals, or they get ‘lost’ in the system; however this is far from true.
"If an animal is surrendered to us or is not claimed, it is re-homed via the RSPCA on the Mornington Peninsula pending the approval of a temperament test carried out by the local vet," Ms Mitchell said.
"Often when an animal is injured, we liaise with the RSPCA so we can find a way for the animal to get the appropriate vet care and still find a "forever" home.
"Not long ago, Council had a stray Beagle X dog come into the pound with an injured paw."
The timid female dog had no ID and unfortunately was never claimed," Ms Mitchell said.
"The dog was taken to the RSPCA after her eight day holding period with a broken toe, a deep wound, poor body condition and was had ear mites.
"After a month of treatment, including toe surgery and a proper feeding plan, she was back to normal, before being desexed and adopted out to a good home."
For more information on registering and microchipping your pet, visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/pets.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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