South Burnett Regional Council ramps up dog registration enforcement

The owners of unregistered dogs have been put on notice as the council ramps up its measures to enforce compliance and embarks on a series of property inspections.

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South Burnett residents are being urged to ensure their furry companions are registered, as the local council launches a rigorous crackdown on overdue dog registrations.

With dog registrations for 2023-2024 now overdue, the council is taking decisive steps to enforce compliance.

On April 12, it announced the start of an Approved Systematic Inspection Program, where council officers will attend properties suspected of owning dogs and ensure they have an up-to-date registration.

The program starts on April 29, 2024, and goes until June 30, 2024, between 8am and 5pm from Monday to Friday to cover properties across the region.

The notice states council is empowered by the Animal Management (cats and dogs) Act 2008 to conduct these inspections to verify compliance.

A separate notice issued on April 22, announced dog registrations were overdue and stated that failing to comply with registration requirements could result in enforcement action, including fines.

The council emphasised the importance of updating any changes in ownership, address, or the unfortunate passing of a pet.

Failure to notify the council within the specified time frame also carries a potential fine.

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South Burnett residents are being urged to register their dogs or face penalties.

The decision to intensify enforcement comes in the wake of debate among council members regarding overdue dog registration fees in a December 2023 council meeting.

During the debate, councillors expressed conflicting views on whether to pursue or waive $72,000 in outstanding registration fees from the previous year.

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While some argued for recouping the fees to avoid burdening non-dog-owning ratepayers, others advocated for leniency, citing past communication lapses regarding registration renewals.

Former acting mayor Gavin Jones ultimately cast the tie-breaking vote in favour of chasing the overdue fees and highlighted the council’s fiscal responsibility amid ongoing budgetary challenges as a reason for his vote.