Council is reminding residents to register their pets and renew their rego in April, to ensure their furry friends can make it home if they get lost.
All dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with Council by the age of three months. Cats being registered for the first time must be desexed unless the owner is eligible for an exemption.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said that pet registration renewal on 10 April was a great time for owners to think about responsible pet ownership.
“Registering your pets is crucial – it ensures that we can help reunite you with your pet if they run away or go missing. If your pet isn’t microchipped or registered, it is very difficult to help them get back home,” Cr Child said.
“Registering can be done in a few steps online, and we’ve been contacting owners via Mail to remind them of renewals coming up.
“Pet rego is just one small part of responsible pet ownership – your pet needs regular exercise, play time and mental stimulation. They need to be given good shelter from heat and rain, access to food and water, regular immunisations, vet check-ups and, of course, plenty of love.
“During COVID-19, your pet may have missed an immunisation, and returning to offices and workplaces means your pet may be spending more time alone. If you’ve got a pet, make sure you take time regularly to prioritise their wellbeing.”
When exercising your dog, it must always be on lead, unless inside the designated off-lead areas, and owners are responsible for disposing of waste responsibly.
“Keeping your dog on-lead is not just for the protection of other people, but for the wellbeing of your animal, too,” Cr Child said.
“We know our pets well, but we don’t always know how they will react to other people, animals, or sudden noises when we’re out in the community.
“It’s always distressing to hear of incidents when animals or people are injured, and if we’re all doing our bit to be responsible owners, we can minimise these incidents as much as possible.”
See our interactive map of dog off-lead areas
Dogs are not permitted in:
- Ovals
- Sporting grounds
- Playgrounds
- Picnic and barbecue areas
- The beach area at Lilydale Lake
- National Parks
In off-lead areas, owners must still carry a lead and maintain hand or voice control at all times.
In Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water or Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning reserves, dogs must be on lead unless otherwise stated by signage.
