Council to discuss pet-dexing grant

A DE-SEXING program for Palmerston pets may soon help control domestic animals in the municipality, with council set to streamline the process

A DE-SEXING program for Palmerston pets may soon help control domestic animals in the municipality, with council set to streamline the process.

Council will tonight decide whether to provide a $15,000 grant to an external agency to administer a desexing program.

Throughout the report, Palmerston manager ranger services Jeff Borella said desexing animals would ensure they remained happy and healthy and council accounted for any issues which could be created from non desexed animals.

“De-sexing significantly reduces the number of unwanted cats and dogs. There are additional benefits including animals are less likely to be aggressive, mark territory, be prone to wandering or to develop certain types of cancers,” he said. “It is recommended that council provide a grant to fund these services to address the considerations.”

Mr Borella said arranging for one organisation to take control of the desexing program would make for an easier and more accessible system.

“Funding these services through a single supplier will build their capacity and allow council to more effectively manage the program,” he said.

“Working with a single supplier procured through an open market process also allows council to include additional services such as the provision of microchipping.

“An amount of $15,000 per year over three years is recommended to ensure the program’s effectiveness.”

If passed, the program will also ensure all animals are microchipped and registered prior to their release and ensure registration details are provided to council.

The grant will see $15,000 per year for three years provided to the organisation.

Access to the program to be means tested with criteria to be determined by council and their Palmerston Animal Management Advisory Committee.

The committee has also changed a number of their reference terms.