1 February 2012
About $90,000 will be invested in Responsible Pet Ownership Programs to be launched by the Fraser Coast Regional Council.
The funds come from pet registrations and aim to increase the number of animals being desexed and microchipped, cut antisocial behaviour and support animal welfare groups to rehome animals.
“Too many animals end up in Council’s pound,” Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger said.
“This program will reduce the numbers of unwanted pets being abandoned and complaints being received by Council about pets behaving badly.”
Council will continue to support the RSPCA mobile desexing unit visiting the Fraser Coast. Last year Council helped the Maryborough Animal Refuge through a grant to bring the unit to the city. The refuge plans to bring the unit to the city for two weeks in 2012.
An agreement has been developed with the Fraser Coast Animal Education Training Unit in Hervey Bay to co-ordinate a four-week visit by the desexing unit to Hervey Bay this year.
The unit will be in the Bay in February and is almost fully booked out.
Council has allocated $5,000 to subsidise pensioners and those holding a pensioner concession card to book their pets into the unit and reduce the cost from $100 to $75.
Council will also budget $10,000 to offer a $50 incentive for the owners of registered whole animals to have their pets desexed.
The subsidy is not available to those who use the RSPCA mobile unit subsidy.
To increase desexing rates of female cats Council has allocated $6,000 to introduce the Last Litter Fund where the Council will desex and rehome kittens.
To increase the number of animals being micropchipped, Council will allocate $4,000 to enable all owners using the mobile desexing unit to have their pet microchipped free.
To increase uptake of pet registration, Council will offer a one-off incentive if pets are registered by the due date.
To cut antisocial behaviour, Council has allocated $10,000 to subsidise training for registered dogs which have been the subject of complaints
Council will also start the Walk with Me program late in 2012. The program will be run on weekends to promote walking and animal interaction to reduce antisocial animal behaviour.
A series of web-based initiatives will also be instigated to reunite owners with their pets.
Two new Facebook sites will start in February to link impounded animals with their owners, especially on weekends.
Petowners will also be able to post details of lost pets and ones that have been found. Under this program animals could be reunited with owners without Council intervention.
Council will also support local animal welfare groups which are the cornerstone of rehoming of cats and dogs within the region.
These groups work with Council and provide an invaluable service in taking unclaimed impounded animals to find them homes.
Without these groups the euthanasia rates would increase and healthy rehomable pets would be destroyed.
Welfare groups will be offered free registration of fostered or adopted pets, free access to unclaimed impounded animals and free permits for additional dogs which are fostered.
