Cardinia pet owners are reminded to ensure their pets are registered and microchipped with the council, ahead of door knock ambassadors visiting properties in Cardinia soon.
For 2 weeks from Saturday 8 June, trained and licensed Regi-Check ambassadors will be visiting homes to deliver an education campaign on the importance of registering pets, and the benefits of having a registered pet.
All cats and dogs over three months old must be registered with council and microchipped, as required by State Government regulations.
Pet registration must be renewed by 10 April each year.
The ambassadors will be carrying official identification and will not be asking residents for money or issuing fines, and signage will be placed in areas where the door knocking is being carried out.
Cardinia Council mayor Jack Kowarzik said he hopes the door knocking campaign will help educate new pet owners about responsible pet ownership and assist owners of previously registered pets with re-registering.
“Our pets are like members of the family, and I know how stressful it is when they get out and wander away from home,” he said.
“Having your pet registered with council helps our compliance team reunite lost or roaming animals, and helps to avoid our pets taking unnecessary trips to the pound if an owner can’t be found right away.”
While the door knocking campaign encourages cooperation from pet owners, owners who do not register their cats and dogs may face fines of $395 per animal, with even higher penalties if the animals are impounded.
Properties identified with animals by door knock ambassadors during the campaign will be followed up by the council’s compliance officers at a later date.
For more information, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/petregistration
