Pet Ownership
Each year thousands of people abandon their pets for reasons ranging from loss of interest to lack of funds. Dog ownership is a commitment for 10 - 15 years (some dogs can live for much longer). Cat ownership is a commitment for about 12 years (although many cats live much longer).
A dog's basic needs include:
- registration
- identification (registration tag, microchip)
- housing (protection from the rain and sun)
- water available at all times
- nutrition (a healthy balanced diet)
- obedience training
- exercise and play
- bathing and grooming
- routine vet visits
- vaccination
- worming
- flea/tick control
- heartworm control
- holiday boarding arrangements.
A cat's basic needs include:
- registration
- identification (microchip)
- housing (protection from the rain and sun)
- water available at all times
- nutrition (high protein/high fat diet)
- grooming
- routine vet visits
- vaccination
- worming
- flea/tick control
- holiday boarding arrangements
- housed indoors overnight
- outdoor cat run enclosure.
When considering becoming a dog or cat owner you should first consider what type of dog or cat will best suit your home environment and lifestyle, for example:
- Active or passive?
- Large or small?
- Short-haired coat or long-haired coat? (Remember long-haired breeds require daily grooming.)
- Pedigree or crossbreed?
- Female or male?
Pet ownership checklist
Before you consider becoming a pet owner, you must ensure that you can meet the animal's basic needs. If you can answer 'yes' to all these questions, you are ready to become a responsible pet owner.
- Have you considered what type of dog or cat will best suit your home environment and lifestyle?
- Can you afford an annual registration fee?
- Do you have a prescribed enclosure for the dog?
- Will you be able to effectively control the dog?
- Can you afford to take a dog to obedience training courses?
- Can you provide adequate food and housing for a dog or a cat?
- Can you afford routine vet visits, vaccination, worming, and flea/tick control?
- Can you afford to put the dog or cat in a boarding kennel when you go on holidays?
- Can you exercise the dog or cat daily?
- Can you afford routine vet visits, vaccination, worming and flea/tick control?
If you are considering buying a pet through Council's Animal Management Centre Cat and Dog Sale Program and are interested in a particular breed download the Expression of Interest - Dog and Cat Rehoming Program (PDF 452 KB) form and return it to the Animal Management Centre. You will be contacted when your selected breed becomes available.
