Council gets tough on its pet subject

COUNCIL workers will be knocking on doors throughout Greater Dandenong next month to identify all registered and unregistered pets.
Regulatory services manager Peter Shelton said a pet amnesty had been declared until 1 March to ensure that residents who register their pets by then will not be penalised.
But pet owners who failed to register their animals by the deadline could face a $227 fine and have their animals impounded.
“As a council we take the issue of pet registration very seriously but wish to avoid impounding where possible,” Mr Shelton said.
“We are talking about the welfare of animals and it is in the animals’ best interest for them to be registered.
“Registration enables the animals’ owners to be easily identified and ensure the quick return of lost pets.”
At present 9071 dogs and 3528 cats are registered in the City of Greater Dandenong.
State Legislation requires that all dogs and cats aged three months and over are registered with their local council.
Mr Shelton said the council returned more than 22 per cent of lost animals direct to their homes because they were registered or micro-chipped.