Being responsible for your pet is not just important for the well-being of your animal - it's also imperative to the safety and happiness of our community.
Keeping your pet healthy and content includes primary care, such as regular veterinary check-ups, nutritious food, and particularly in extreme weather during the summer months, access to plenty of clean water. It also involves containing your pet to prevent nuisance behaviors, and to protect the diverse wildlife living within our region.
Socialising your pet is a significant responsibility, but important in creating a safe environment for all members of our community, both human and animal.
Within Ararat Rural City, all dogs and cats aged three months and older must be registered annually by April 10th, regardless of their initial registration date. Registration enables Council to efficiently reunite lost pets with their owners, and registration fees contribute to vital services such as Ararat Animal Shelter, providing a safe place for lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals. It also assists Council to respond effectively to complaints about dangerous or nuisance animals.
There are a range of criteria which grant eligibility for reduced pet registration fees. Some of these conditions demonstrate responsible pet ownership, such as the de-sexing of your pet, or securing an obedience certificate issued by a Government-approved organisation. Some are related to other factors like advanced age (over 10 years) or business (working dogs).
If you are looking for a new pet, consider adopting from Ararat Animal Shelter. Every animal which Council puts up for adoption has been temperament tested and comprehensively health checked. They are also all desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, worm- and flea-treated, and are looking for a second chance at a happy and healthy life.
When pet owners are not responsible for their animals, dangerous incidents can occur. If you are seriously injured by an unsecured or aggressive animal, call 000. After any dog attack (involving injury or not), please immediately call Council Customer Service on (03) 5352 0200. Be prepared to provide as much information as possible, including the time and location of the incident, a description of the dog, and details of the incident itself.
"We all deserve a harmonious coexistence with the animals in our community," says Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison. "I ask all community members to please take the ownership of their pets seriously."
