Animals
Domestic Animal Registration
To assist Council in finding your pet, should it stray, dogs and cats over 3 months of age must be registered with Council by 10 April each year. To assist with identification, pets must wear their registration tag at all times.
Registration costs increase annually, but discounts apply for de-sexing, micro-chipping and dogs and cats over 10 years of age.
Contact Customer Service on 5220 7111 for current registration costs.
Lost Pets
Council works in partnership with the RSPCA in Ballarat and the Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) to provide safe refuge to lost pets. If your pet has gone missing you can contact Council on 1300 363 036 to find out if Officers have collected your pet, or alternatively;
- Residents in the north of the Shire who are concerned about a missing pet can contact the RSPCA in Ballarat on 5334 2075.
- Residents in the south of the Shire who are searching for a lost pet can contact GAWS in Geelong on 5248 2091.
Pet Adoption
Occasionally pets that find their way to the pound are not collected by their owner. After eight days in the pound, these pets become available for adoption provided they are healthy and not aggressive. The Ballarat RSPCA and the Geelong Animal Welfare Society are always trying to find a new home for these pets. The links below will direct you to the RSPCA and Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) pet adoption web pages where you may be able to find your new best friend!
Geelong Animal Welfare Society
Registration Fees
Domestic Animal Registration Form
Domestic Animal Registration Form Cost of Registration is $104.00 (per animal)
Discount registration is $35.00 (per animal) for the following:
- Dogs used for working stock
- Animals over 10 years of age
- Animals that have been desexed (proof required)
- Animals that have been microchipped (proof required)
- Any animal registered with an approved organisation (eg. VCA, FCC)
- Animals kept for commercial breeding as part of a registered Domestic Animal Business
A further discount of 50% of the fee applies to Pensioner Concession Card holders only (prior approval must be obtained from Council).
Failure to register or renew the registration of a dog or cat over the age of 3 months is an offence with a fine of $282.
Animal Numbers
While it's great to have pets, too many animals can cause amenity problems in your neighbourhood. Golden Plains Shire has a limit of two dogs and two cats per property. You will need permission from Council if you wish to keep more than this unless they are dogs in a rural area used exclusively for droving or drafting livestock. Application forms for obtaining a permit to keep more than two dogs or two cats can be obtained from either of Council's customer service centres or by clicking the link below.
Barking Dogs
Your neighbours can complain if your dog is often noisy or unreasonably disturbs the peace.
If you are concerned about a barking dog problem, it is a good idea to talk with your neighbour first as they may not be aware their dog is causing a problem. If noise persists, contact the Community Protection Officer to discuss the problem. The Community Protection Officer will provide the dog owner with advice on possible solutions. If the problem cannot be resolved, Council can prosecute and fine the dog owner.
Menacing dogs
Dogs that rush out at people or chase people can be declared as menacing under the Domestic Animals Act (1994).
A dog may be declared a menacing dog if:
(a) the dog has rushed at or chased a person more than 3 times; or
(b) the dog has been declared a menacing dog by another Council.
Please ensure dogs are confined to their property at all times and when walking, please ensure your dog is on a leash and adequately controlled.
Domestic Animal Ownership Information Sheets
Council has a series of domestic animal ownership information sheets available to download below. They include solutions on barking dogs, biting and aggression, desexing your pet, fencing and roaming, litter, registration and identification, and responsible pet ownership.
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