RSPCA Victoria is pleased to see legislation regarding reuniting lost pets with owners being introduced in Parliament today and commends the Victorian Labor Government’s work to implement this election commitment.
Under section 84D of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (the Act), currently veterinary practices and other animal shelters cannot lawfully reunite stray pets with their owners unless they have established an 84Y agreement with the local council.
Changes to legislation introduced in Parliament today mean that all vets and shelters will be able to scan a lost animal’s microchip and immediately contact the owner, avoiding the need to send the animal to the local council pound.
RSPCA Victoria has significant experience operating pounds and shelters and reuniting pets with their owners and supports reunification pathways that see dogs and cats returned to owners directly. RSPCA Victoria currently has 84Y agreements in place with local councils across Victoria, allowing the animal welfare organisation to perform this service.
Prior to the 2018 state election, RSPCA Victoria advocated for lost pets to be directly reunited with their owners and in August 2020, provided feedback on the Reuniting lost pets review.
RSPCA Victoria CEO, Dr Liz Walker said at the time the organisation was pleased to secure bipartisan support to amend section 84D of the Act to allow veterinarians and animal shelters to reunite lost animals with their owners without the requirement for a section 84Y agreement.
“This is a great outcome for animal welfare and for pet owners in Victoria,” said Dr Walker.
“Enabling vet clinics and animal shelters to directly reunite animals with their owners without the need for an 84Y agreement with local councils would reduce the period of separation, avoid additional transferring of the animal and reduce the load on pounds.
“Allowing pets to be reunited with owners directly will have a positive welfare impact for animals found wandering, while also lowering operational costs for local councils.”
RSPCA Victoria encourages pet owners to ensure their pets are microchipped. A microchip provides a permanent form of identification which can assist with reuniting owners with lost or injured pets. View the Domestic animal (microchip) registries
