Local pet-owners will soon receive their annual animal registration renewal notice in the mail.
Under the Victorian Government’s Domestic Animals Act 1994, all dogs and cats over the age of three months must be registered by 10 April. This is the same date every year, and falls on a Saturday in 2021.
To renew a pet’s registration for 2021, residents can simply review the notice received in the mail and pay the registration cost by any of the ways listed, including:
- In-person at Council’s Customer Service Centres: 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn and 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale
- By BPAY
- Over the phone at 5220 7111
- Or through Post Billpay.
Residents can also sign-up to a payment plan via BPAY to break up the cost of their pet registration by calling Council’s Customer Service team at 5220 7111.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby encouraged pet-owners to complete their registration renewal ahead of this year’s deadline.
“Animal registration and management is a core part of Council’s duties, as mandated by the State Government. This year’s registration renewal date is approaching soon on 10 April, and I encourage all local pet-owners to make sure their furry best friends are registered for 2021.
“While pet registration is compulsory under Victorian law, there are plenty of benefits to pet-owners of ensuring their pet’s registration is up-to-date. When registered pets are lost or stray away from home, registration makes it easy for Council to safely and quickly reunite pets and owners. At Golden Plains Shire Council, we offer this service for free for first time escapees, with the registration fee funding this and some of our other animal management costs.”
Owners with microchipped and desexed pets pay the discounted rate of $47, rather than the full annual registration fee is $136 per cat and $152 per dog. Further discounts are available for certain card holders. For a detailed list of discounted options, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/pet-registration.
A large number of pets did not have their registration renewed in 2020. To ensure pets are not missed and left unregistered this year, Council will send a renewal notice to all pet-owners who had an animal registered in 2019-20, unless otherwise advised. If a resident no longer owns a pet listed on their notice, they can complete and return the Statement of Change slip on the back of the notice.