Dog program paying off

MORE than 2700 residents in the Toowoomba region were hit with infringement notices from the council for unregistered dogs over the past three years.

New figures from the Toowoomba Regional Council have revealed the results of its systematic dog inspection program, with 981 notices handed to people during the last financial year.

The program appears to be working too, with environment and community portfolio leader Cr Tim McMahon reporting registration numbers had increased by 15 per cent on average every year since 2017-18.

“The council will conduct registration checks and regulated dog compliance inspections this financial year,” he said.

“Registering dogs with correct contact details is one of the best ways to ensure lost pets are reunited with their owners as quickly as possible.

“Microchipping cats and dogs at an authorised implanter also offers an additional safeguard in the event a valued family pet goes missing.

“Keeping records current with the council and microchip databases has the added advantage of ensuring the correct contact details are kept for each animal in the event an animal goes missing.”

While the council has sent out more than 19,000 registration renewal notices for the 2020-21 financial year, Cr McMahon said there was no way of knowing for sure how many dogs there were in the region.

“The number of dogs registered across the TRC from 2017-18 to date has increased by approximately 15 per cent each year,” he said.

“The total number of dogs in the region is unknown.

“Dogs classified as ‘working dogs’ under the Animal Management Cats and Dogs Act are not required to be registered with the council.”

For more information about registering your pet with the council head to tr.qld.gov.au/ dogrego or call the TRC on 131 872.

Discounts are available under certain conditions.