Dead pet registration fines nearly costs Dulong woman her licence

Sunshine Coast Council has been called out for repeatedly fining people for not re-registering their deceased pets. Find out how a dead cat nearly cost one woman her licence.

Sunshine Coast Council has been criticised for fining people for not re-registering their dead pets. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Sunshine Coast Council has been slammed for repeatedly fining people for not re-registering their dead pets.

Dulong resident Tina Barker said she had contacted the council several times over three years about her cat who first went missing and was then found dead.

But despite informing the council that her pet had passed, she continued to be issued fines for not re-registering the animal.

“I called the council and told them that the cat had passed away and that would have had to have been about three years ago,” she said.

“In 2021 we get another reminder message for this cat that had passed away and we had documents and proof that the cat was dead.

“I mean it’s not something you want to be repeatedly reminded about.”

Ms Barker said she had called and spoken to council about the issue multiple times and was told it would be fixed.

“Come 2022, I get another fine from the council and a request for payment for registration for this cat,” she said.

Ms Barker said her licence was nearly suspended over the issue.

“I get a text message from SPER (State Penalties Enforcement Registry) this year in January saying your licence was suspended or cancelled because of a fine,” she said.

“I actually thought council was playing a joke on me.”

Ms Barker said the loss of her licence would severely impact her life.

“That thoroughly impacts on my job and my ability to get my kids to and from school,” she said.

“I’m not paying any money to retract a fine that I should never have got.”

The Sunshine Coast Daily has spoken to multiple people who experienced the same thing, as well as some people who managed to have their fines waived.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said council sent multiple reminders to pet owners for renewals.

“Prior to an infringement being issued, three separate reminders were also sent to animal owners through SMS, email and post,” she said.

“Pet owners can contact council to advise of their individual circumstances in relation to an infringement issued.

“Each case is reviewed on its merits, taking into account individual, specific circumstances.”

The council did not directly answer questions about their policy dealing with people with deceased registered pets.

The spokeswoman said 2739 infringements were issued in 2022 for failing to renew an animal registration and that there were currently 62,060 registered dogs and cats on the Sunshine Coast.

Ms Barker said she had been put through a loop of dealing with council and SPER.

“I was told by council that it was SPER that had to retract it,” she said.

“But they said they couldn’t retract the fine and that the Sunshine Coast Council was the only one who could do it.”

The council spokeswoman said there were online resources for people wanting to check or update the registration of their pets.

“Pet owners can also update their pet’s details, including changes to desexing, microchipping and pensioner details or cancelling your pet’s registration if you no longer own your pet, via MyCouncil or an online form on council’s website,” she said.