New fee structure rewards responsible pet owners

Pensioners who desex their pets will receive free dog registration under Noosa Council’s new fee structure, saving the majority of pensioners $30 a year.

“Noosa has one of the highest rates of desexed dogs in Queensland at almost 90 per cent,” Mayor Noel Playford said.

“So while registration fees will increase for the new financial year, the new fee structure rewards pet owners who have had their dog desexed.”

Registration for desexed dogs is $30 from 1 July, compared with $140 for a dog that has not been de-sexed, or $115 with a pensioner concession.

“The state government’s Animal Management Act requires Council to provide incentives for pet desexing. This fee structure rewards the majority of Noosa dog owners who have had their pet desexed, and encourages others to consider it.”

Cr Playford said the changes removed a discount for pet owners who had microchipped their pets.

“Microchipping has been a legal requirement for dog owners for many years and Council will no longer provide financial incentives to encourage pet owners to comply with the law.

“It’s in every dog owner’s interest to microchip their pet so Council can quickly reunite them with their dog, should it get lost.”

Cr Playford said animal management was among Council’s most costly responsibilities, and changes to the fee structure would recoup only some of the costs.

“Registration of regulated dogs will rise from $257 to $400 per year,” he said.

“Regulated dogs have a history of menacing behaviour or attacks on people or animals. It is in the interests of public safety that Council regularly checks on these animals and the premises where they are kept. The increased fee is to try to recoup some of the actual costs for annual inspections of regulated dogs.”

Dog registration helps fund off-leash dog area maintenance, pound costs, dog patrols and the provision of dog waste bags, as well as other animal management activities.

Dog registration costs from 1 July 2015:

• Non-desexed:                                     $140
• Non-desexed (pensioner conc.):    $115
• Desexed:                                             $30
• Desexed (pensioner conc.):            $0
• Regulated dog:                                  $400

These changes are proposed to apply from 1 July, 2015.

12 June 2015