Time to register pets

CARDINIA Council is reminding residents to register their pet or renew their registration before 10 April.
All dogs and cats over the age of three months must be registered with council every year.
Pets must also be micro-chipped before they are registered.
Council’s Compliance Services Co-ordinator Shannon Maynard said dog or cat owners had a responsibility to register and micro-chip their pet, and ensure it complied with other council regulations.
“The registration fee is a small price to pay to know council can bring your four-legged friend home if they ever get lost,” he said.
“Close to 19,000 cats and dogs were registered in Cardinia Shire in 2014 and Pakenham had the most animals registered – 7910 in 2014. The oldest registered animal in the shire is 19 years old.
“It’s interesting to see what residents name their pets. Clearly there are quite a few fans of the movie ‘Milo and Otis’; Cardinia Shire has 65 pets named Milo and four animals named Otis.”
The owner of an unregistered dog or cat over the age of three months risks receiving a fine from council.
For fees, or to download a registration form, visit council’s ‘Cat and dog registration’ webpage or call 1300 787 624.
A desexing certificate must be presented to council upon registration application.