CAT and dog owners have until 10 April to renew their pets’ registrations with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
Renewal notices are about to be sent out and fees can be paid online, over the phone and in person.
It costs $54 a year to register a desexed dog and cat, with discounts for pension card holders.
Owners of an unregistered dog or cat can be fined $363 (subject to state government increases).
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires all cats and dogs over the age of three months to be microchipped and registered with the shire.
The shire says services paid directly from pet registration fees include off-leash dog areas (mornpen.vic.gov.au/leashfree); operating the pound which holds lost pets and finds new homes for unclaimed cats and dogs (mornpen.vic.gov.au/lostpets); community safety officers and rangers responding to dog attacks and nuisance complaints; and the state government levy which pays for community education on responsible pet ownership.
Cats must be desexed to be registered within the shire unless the cat and its owner are a member of Feline Control Council, Cat Fancy Australia, Australian National Cats or Waratah National Cat Alliance.
Owners registering their pets for the first time may be eligible for free registration. Animals adopted from the community animal shelter will also be registered for free.
Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/petregistration to learn more about the different ways to pay your registration and to register new pets.
