Keep Your Dog Safe and Happy

Are you and your pet new to the region? Have you recently welcomed a furry companion to the family? If so, did you know that all dogs kept in the Western Downs (some exemptions apply) must be registered with Council? Keeping your pet happy, safe and registered is as easy as popping into your nearest Council Customer Service Centre and speaking to our friendly staff.

• All dogs over 12 weeks old must be registered with Council, or for older dogs they must be registered within 14 days of you moving to the region or them changing ownership;
• Last year Council revamped their dog registration and renewal process, launching our new Smart Notices and introducing one or three year registration periods and our new Puppy Fee for dogs under six months of age;
• With our new streamlined processes it’s never been easier to register your dog with Council.

Council Spokesperson for Planning and Environment Councillor Andrew Smith said registration is the simplest step owners can take to ensure they meet their legislative requirements.

“Last year we listened to our customers and made significant improvements to our dog registration and renewal process, making it easier and more cost-effective for dog owners, as well as rewarding them for doing the right thing,” he said.

“You now have the option to register your dog for one year, or the new three year registration period which allows owners to ‘set, pay and forget’ until they receive a renewal reminder notice in three years’ time.

“Another great example of how we’re rewarding responsible pet ownership is through our new Puppy Fee for dogs under six months of age. This new fee is capped at the lower desexed rate for the first year, recognising that while puppies must be registered at three months, they aren’t usually desexed until at least six months.

“At registration, our staff will issue you a tag that contains specific information about your dog which will need to be attached to their collar for identification, meaning that if they get lost or wander we’ll be able to quickly and easily reunite them with you.

“So if you’ve recently moved to the area or welcomed a new dog to your family, come see us about getting your pet registered with Council.”

For more information about dog registration, tips on responsible pet ownership and Smart Notices visit our Animal Management webpage or call 1300 COUNCIL.