Ararat Rural City Council is urging local pet owners to bring their registrations up to date following the 10 April 2026 deadline for dog and cat registrations. These are worse figures than at the same time last year, and Council is concerned about the number of animals that remain unregistered.
So far, about 69 per cent of pet registrations across the municipality have been paid, with around 31 per cent still outstanding. This equates to 717 unpaid registrations that will shortly require an overdue or reminder notice if not finalised. Council is aiming to significantly reduce the number of reminder notices it needs to issue in the coming weeks by encouraging owners to act now.
Pet registration is a legal requirement for all dogs and cats over three months of age, and helps ensure animals can be quickly identified and reunited with their owners if they become lost. Registration also supports responsible pet ownership initiatives across the municipality, including education, patrols, and animal management services.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison, said it was important that residents took a few minutes to check their details and make payment as soon as possible. "We know how much people care about their animals, and registration is one of the simplest ways to look after them and look after our community," Dr Harrison said. "We appreciate that cost of living pressures are making things tough for many households at the moment, but this really does need to be done, and it only takes a short time to sort out your registration."
Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said Council had made it as straightforward as possible for residents to pay on time. "There are plenty of easy options to get this done, but the fastest and most convenient is to jump onto the Council website and pay online," Cr Sanders said. "If you prefer to use your bank, you can also pay by BPAY through your internet banking, which means you do not even need to leave home."
