Council fines pet owners $252 for unregistered dead dogs

Council has rejected unnecessarily putting the financial “bite” on dog owners for failing to notify when their registered dog dies.

NOOSA Shire Council has rejected unnecessarily putting the financial "bite" on dog owners for failing to notify when their registered dog dies.

Upset owners have gone public after being hit with $252 fines, but council local laws officer Phil Amson said under State Government law it is a requirement to notify the local authority when a dog dies or if the owner changes address.

"Council provides a degree of latitude in enforcing these regulations knowing that the loss of a pet or moving house is a difficult and stressful time," Mr Amson said.

"Any current infringement notices are the result of a lengthy process that started with the issuing of a dog registration renewal notice in September and a following reminder notice in November.

"This means that dog owners have had almost six months to let council know if their pet has passed away."

Mr Amson said despite the two notices council sent out last year, over 730 dogs appeared to remain unregistered in February.

"So in accordance with our standard procedure, infringement notices were issued in March."

Mr Amson said residents whose pet has passed away can sign a statutory declaration to that effect and the council will then waive the infringement notice and "that will be the end of the matter".

"Council has no interest in penalising people unfairly. The suggestion that council is simply revenue raising through the dog registration system is untrue," he said.

"The overall costs to council in relation to dog registration, dog management, pet owner education and action on dog attacks far outweighs the revenue received from dog registrations and related infringement notices."

Phone council on 5329 6500.