Animals

• Animal Registration
• Pets in Public Places
• Responsible Pet Ownership
• What happens if my pet goes missing?
• Animal Microchipping

Animal Registration

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR NEW ANIMAL REGISTRATIONS

Please take note changes to the legislation relating to The Domestic Feral and Nuisance Animals Act 1994

As of May 1 2007, Council cannot register any new animal that has not been implanted with a microchip. Proof will be required, if no proof is shown registration will be refused.

The Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act requires that all cats and dogs over the age of three months be registered with Council. Registrations are an annual charge and must be renewed by 10 April each year.

We will issue you with a lifetime tag on the first registration. If the tag is lost or damaged contact our Customer Service staff for a replacement or click here to complete a customer feedback form online.

WHAT DOES REGISTRATION PAY FOR?

The funds raised through registration fees pay for Council's animal control services. These include a twenty-four hour emergency service, provision of pound/shelters for lost, stray and unwanted animals, mediation programs and community education. Council also pays $2.50 per dog and $1.00 per cat from every registration to the State Government for its education programs.

It is important that your pet wears the tag provided, it is the link to you in the event that it becomes lost.

DO I HAVE TO REGISTER MY ANIMAL IF IT IS MICROCHIPPED?

Yes, while microchips are becoming a popular way of identifying animals and Council encourages this, it should be noted that the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act does require that animals must be registered and Council registration tags must be worn at all times. Make sure that you notify the microchip registry if you change your contact details or address

CAN I PAY MY REGISTRATION OVER THE INTERNET?

Registration renewals can be paid by credit card over the Internet. Just click on the link below and follow the instructions. You will need your registration renewal form to be able to process your payment.

Animal Registration Renewal Online

Registration of a new animal requires that an affirmation be signed stating that all information provided regarding the animal and its owner is correct. Due to the requirement of a signature, new registrations cannot be paid over the Internet. You can download an Application form from the following link below. Print out the form and fill in the information. You can then either mail it to us or bring it in to one of our Service Centres when making payment. Fees are listed on the form.

REDUCED FEE CATEGORIES

You may be eligible for a reduced fee if your pet meets any one of the following requirements of the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994. Please note only one reduction in fees is permitted.

Desexed dogs or cats.
Dogs or cats over 10 years old.
Dogs kept for working stock.
Dogs or cats kept for breeding by the proprietor of a domestic animal business conducted on registered premises.
Cats registered with the Feline Control Council, the Governing Council of Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria Incorporated, the Democratic Cat Council Incorporated or any successor in law of any one of those associations or a breed society approved by Council.
Dogs that have undergone obedience training which comply with the regulations.
Dogs registered with the Victorian Canine Association or any successor in law of that Association or any organisation approved by the Council.
Dogs or cats that are permanently identified in the prescribed manner (microchip).

PENSION CARD HOLDERS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONCESSION ON ANIMAL REGISTRATIONS

Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veterans' Affairs Repatriation Health Card specifying a War Widow TPI

These are the only pension cards accepted for half rate fees. A photocopy of the pension card must accompany any claims for concession on animal registrations. Please note that if you wish to apply for a pension concession on your rates you must complete an application for pension concession form (below).

CAN I CHANGE ANY OF MY REGISTRATION DETAILS OVER THE INTERNET?

To notify Council of a deceased animal or to change your residential or postal address for animal registrations please download and complete the relevant forms below . 

You can then either mail these forms to us or bring them in to one of our Service Centres.

Pets in Public Places

DOGS OFF LEAD
All dogs must be under effective control whilst off their owners property. To protect other people and your pet, dogs must be on lead on:

• all streets, roads and car parks
• or within 5 metres of a shared footway (bike and pedestrian path).

For health and safety reasons do not allow your dog or cat within 5 metres of children's playgrounds or public barbecues.  If you are using these areas and have brought your pet along, we suggest you restrain them nearby.

Exercise is an important part of being a dog owner and you are permitted to exercise your dog off lead in all parks except where restrictions have been imposed for environmental reasons such as near wetlands. Usually there are free running areas nearby. Dogs off lead in these free running areas must be under effective control of their owners. What this means is that the dog must be within clear and unobstructed view of its owner and it must return to its owner upon command.

Signs have been erected in those areas where special controls have been imposed. Reasons for restricting the activities of pets in these areas include:

• wetlands provide important breeding habitat for water birds and native animals
• river and billabong banks are fragile and can be trampled or eroded by dogs
• seasonal birds visit our wetlands and dogs or cats may startle these shy visitors
• ground-nesting birds such as Songlarks and Masked Lapwings are at risk from unrestricted pets
• wetlands are habitat for native animals such as tortoises, lizards, snakes and frogs
• as they move between trees or the ground possums and sugar gliders have been known to be killed by dogs
• dogs and cats are at risk of being bitten by snakes
• the smell of dogs and cat urine wards away native fauna such as kangaroos, wallabies and smaller marsupials.

CLEANING UP AFTER YOUR PET
It is an offence not to clean up after your dog if it defecates while on the street or in the park. To assist, Council has installed facilities in some parks within the municipality which allow you to dispose of your dog's droppings. As not all parks are equipped with such an item please take a bag with you when you leave home.

DOG OBEDIENCE
Several dog obedience clubs service Banyule residents. For a list of these clubs please click here.

NUISANCE ANIMALS
The Domestic (Feral & Nuisance) Animals Act recognises the importance of dogs and cats as pets. In addition to registering your pet you have a responsibility to ensure that your pet/s is not a nuisance to your neighbours.

The Cat Protection Society is our expert agency for cat management issues. For information on how to prevent your cat from becoming a nuisance please contact them on 9434 7155.

Incessant barking from a dog can cause all sorts of problems for dog owners and their neighbours. Council has produced a 'Barking Dog Information Booklet' which outlines reasons why dogs may bark, possible solutions and also the correct procedure for lodging a barking dog complaint with Council. To obtain a booklet please contact Customer Service.

DOG ATTACKS
Dog owners are responsible for the control and confinement of their dogs.

Current laws provide for heavy penalties for owners of dogs that rush people. In instances where the dog has attacked, the owner may be fined and requested to pay compensation for damage caused.

In addition to this the dog may be either destroyed or declared as being dangerous. If the dog is declared dangerous there are special restrictions that will be applied.

GENERAL ANIMAL INFORMATION
The following sites contain information about responsible pet ownership, choosing and taking care of pets as well as the welfare of animals.

www.pets.info.vic.gov.au
RSPCA      www.rspca.org.au
Lost Dogs Home     www.lostdogs.com.au
Lort Smith Animal Hospital     www.lortsmith.com

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY RANGER PHONE NUMBER 9490 4222

Responsible Pet Ownership

DESEXING OF CATS AND DOGS
The benefits of having your animals desexed are that it prevents unwanted young being born and can help calm animals. Desexed animals are not as agressive and do not tend to wander as often.

Council provides assistance to pensioners and health care card holders by providing a voucher which entitles the owner to a desexing fee which is below costs. These vouchers are valid for one month from the date of issue.

You can have your pet desexed at:

• any veterinary surgeon
• Lort Smith Hospital 9328 3021
• Lost Dogs Home 9329 2755
• Cat Protection Society 9434 7155

What happens if my pet goes missing?

GOLDEN RULE:
Ensure your pet is always wearing its Council identification tag.

If you lose your pet please advise Council and visit the pound. If your pet is wearing its Council identification tag, Council officers will contact you. If it is not wearing its identification tag we have to wait until you contact us. While officers make every effort to match descriptions of animals they are not always successful, while you call your dog a Kelpie Cross, the Ranger could call it a Labrador Cross, so it is always wise to check.

Council uses the pound facilities of the Nillumbik Shire Council as well as a holding pen in Bellfield for found dogs. The Nillumbik pound is located at 304 Yan Yean Road, Plenty (Melway Ref Map 11D1) and is open 8am to 11am every day of the year. The Bellfield holding pen is only open by appointment, phone 9490 4222.

To view details of impounded dogs at the Bellfield pound click on the following link:
Bellfield Pound

To view photos of impounded dogs at the Nillumbik pound click on the following link:
http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Register/Register.asp?Reg_Id=5

If you find a dog, the best way for it to get home to its owners is to hand it over to Council. If the dog is not wearing identification the Rangers can scan the dog for a microchip. The pound is often the first place owners check for their lost dogs.

Cats collected by Council are housed at the Cat Protection Society located at 200 Elder Street, Greensborough. Their opening hours are 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Their contact phone number is 9434 7155 (Monday to Friday only).

RESTRICTED DOG BREEDS
The State Government has made amendments to the Domestic (Feral & Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 in relation to the keeping of ‘Restricted Dog Breeds’.

A ‘Restricted Dog Breed’ means a dog of a breed whose importation into Australia is prohibited under Customs regulations.

These breeds currently are:

• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Fila Brasileiro
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Perro De Presa Canario

For further information contact Municipal Laws or the Bureau of Animal Welfare.

PERMITS FOR KEEPING ANIMALS
In Banyule you are permitted to keep a range of pets (animals). However, if you wish to keep more than the number listed below you will require a permit from Council. Permits are also required for goats, horses and other animals. Permit applications can be downloaded from the link below.

Animal Microchipping

Banyule City Council in association with the Lost Dogs Home, conducts microchipping mornings on the second Sunday of every month from 10am at its Ivanhoe Service Centre, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe.

The cost of the chip is $20.00  For bookings please call 1300 300 670.