Resident fined $309 for simple mistake as council 'targets' pet owners
Locals have erupted over the little-known fine, but council has defended its stance.
A pet owner is calling out his local council for issuing a hefty $309 fine for a simple mistake with his dog — as more than 700 fellow Aussies were slugged with the same offence.
Queensland local Peter Morris copped the 'savage' infringement notice after failing to renew his cavoodle Rigby's annual registration with Noosa Council. The dog owner claims that he was only sent one final notice before being issued the fine.
While rules vary from state to state across Australia, in Queensland, it's state law that all dogs must be registered with their local council. Noosa takes the rule a step further and requires pet owners to renew their registration annually. For a desexed dog in Morris' council area, it costs $48.50 each year while a non-desexed dog is $193.50
Morris told Yahoo News Australia that his little cavoodle "barely leaves the house" and alleges the $48.50 registration renewal is a "cash grab" from council.
"Dog owners have 100 per cent been targeted," he told Yahoo News. "We've got a little cavoodle that barely leaves the house. At most he goes out the front on the street and does a wee and comes back in the house. It's a savage revenue raiser, it's just a cash grab. What on earth are you getting for this dog registration?"
Morris claims he had no idea he could be slugged with the fine and has since warned fellow neighbours who have branded the rule "ridiculous" and "greedy".
"There are a lot of people doing it tough," Morris said, believing that dogs should have a one-time council registration fee. "People will buy new dogs and just not register them so there's no record of i. You'd think council would want to maintain their register."
Outrage over 'dodgy' act with puppies witnessed on busy Aussie street
Dog owners could face $10,000 fines after golden retriever attacked
Council defends 'last resort' effort to notify residents
A Noosa Council spokesperson told Yahoo that under state law, all dog owners had been reminded to renew their registration — and that it was only a "last resort" measure that council issued fines. Noosa Council Environmental Health & Local Laws Manager Rob Smith said more than 10,000 Noosa Shire residents did the right thing and renewed their dog registrations last year.
“It is a legal requirement for dog owners to let Council know about any changes which are relevant to their dog ownership," he said. "This includes if a dog is no longer at the registered address. This also ensures that Council has the most up to date information and can keep dog owners informed about their obligations.
“Council recently issued 729 fines in relation to outstanding dog registrations. These fines were issued as a last resort, after numerous formal reminders and follow-up phone calls were provided to owners.”
They add that dog registrations help council provide "community wide services" including dealing with noise complaints, aggressive dogs, as well as undertaking patrols and reuniting lost dogs with their owners quickly.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
