Council is encouraging residents to keep the community and the wellbeing of their animals in mind, as pet registration renewals get closer.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Richard Higgins, said that pet registration renewal on 10 April was a great time for owners to think about responsible pet ownership.
"We have a lot of pet owners in Yarra Ranges who do the right thing by their animals and others every day, which is incredibly heartening, but I want to emphasise that being a responsible owner isn't just about ensuring your pet is registered," Cr Higgins said.
"Your pet needs regular exercise, play time and mental stimulation – they need to be given good shelter from heat and rain, access to food and water, regular immunisations and vet check-ups and, of course, plenty of love.
"If you're taking your dog for a walk, you need to keep them on lead unless you're in one of our designated off-lead areas – that includes when you're walking there from the car.
"This is not just for the protection of other people, but for the wellbeing of your animal, too. It's always distressing to hear of incidents when animals or people are injured, and if we're all doing our bit to be responsible owners, we can minimise these incidents as much as possible."
All dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with Council by the age of three months. Cats being registered for the first time must be desexed unless the owner is eligible for an exemption.
"Registering your pets is crucially important – we regularly use pet microchip numbers to reunite owners with their lost pets with the assistance of Animal Aid," Cr Higgins said.
"Without microchipping and registration, it can be very difficult to reconnect lost animals with their owners, which would be an upsetting thought for most pet owners."
"Registering can be done in a few steps online, and we'll be contacting owners in the next few weeks to remind them of renewals coming up."
Renew, update or cancel pet registration
Off lead dog areas are available at:
- Lilydale Lake
- Lakeview Reserve, Lilydale
- Mount Evelyn Aqueduct Trail Reserve
- Summerhill Park Drive Reserve, Mooroolbark
- Balcombe Avenue Reserve, Mooroolbark
- Pembroke Retarding Basin, Mooroolbark
- Hull Road Drainage Reserve, Mooroolbark
- Richards Reserve, Montrose
- Kimberley Reserve, Chirnside Park
- Kalorama Memorial Reserve
- Cherylnne Crescent Easement, Kilsyth
- Hickman Place Reserve, Seville
- Seville Recreation Reserve
- Wandin East Recreation Reserve
- Yarra Glen Showgrounds
- Minak Reserve, Selby
- Belgrave Lake Park
- Johns Hill Lookout Reserve, Kallista
- Coronation Park, Healesville
- Don Road Recreation Reserve, Healesville
- Mt Morton Reserve, Belgrave South
- Wesburn Park Reserve
See our interactive map of dog off-lead areas
When exercising your dog, it must always be on lead, unless inside the designated off-lead areas (signed in the above reserves), and owners are responsible for disposing of waste responsibly.
Dogs are not permitted in:
- Ovals
- Sporting grounds
- Playgrounds
- Picnic and barbecue areas
- The beach area at Lilydale Lake
- National Parks
In off-lead areas, owners must still carry a lead and maintain hand or voice control at all times.
In Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water or Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning reserves, dogs must be on lead unless otherwise stated by signage.
