Local dog owners provided longer registration period

Fraser Coast residents will be able to renew their dog registration for 14 months instead of 12 months as a result of a one-off extension aimed at ensuring future renewals are not due at the same time as property rates.

Cr Zane O’Keefe said Council issued annual dog registration renewal notices this week with payments due by the end of the month.

“Having a dog can provide a lot of enjoyment and companionship but also comes with commitments and responsibilities, including ensuring they are registered every year,” he said.

“We’ve been heartened by the fact that the number of dogs registered in the region has increased from about 14,000 to almost 21,000 over the past three years.

“Council encourages local residents to keep doing the right thing by ensuring their dogs are registered, de-sexed and their details are up to date.

“Ensuring your dog is registered and microchipped helps reduce the number of animals that end up at the pound and makes it easier for Council to reunite lost pets with their owners.

“The registration fees collected contribute to the cost of Council’s animal management operations including compliance inspections, dog attack investigations, the running of animal pounds and the adoption centre, fenced off-leash areas and responsible pet care programs.”

Cr O’Keefe said Council had listened to community concerns about dog registrations being due at the same time as rates notices by providing a one-off two month extension to the registration period.

“This means that owners can register their dogs until 31 October 2021 instead of 31 August 2021, with future renewal periods to run from 1 November to 31 October each year,” he said.

“Council has also introduced free first year dog registration from 1 July, while the eligibility criteria for animal registration concessions is now the same as rates concessions.

“Council has moved away from the early payment discount in favour of offering everyone a standard fee for payment.

“The early payment discount was really a penalty for people who could not pay before the due date. The new system is more equitable as everyone pays the same fees for the services with concessions targeted at those most in need.”

The eligibility criteria for animal registrations is no longer based solely on age, with concessions now applying to animal owners who hold a:

• Queensland Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink;
• Queensland Repatriation Health Card – For All Conditions (Gold Card); or
• Veterans Affairs Service Card (Gold Card).

It is compulsory for dogs to be registered with Council from twelve weeks of age and within 14 days of owners moving to the region, while dogs also need to de-sexed before 22 weeks of age.

More information is available at https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/animal-registration