Register your working dog, or not

Cr Glenda Mather

COUNCILLORS are sometimes accused of being barking mad.

And now they are chasing their own tails, snarling and scratching feverishly behind their ears to understand what to do about working dogs.

And it’s no wonder. For they have been asked to enforce state legislation that makes it mandatory for all cats and dogs to be registered. But the same legislation gives the owners of working dogs a defence against prosecution if they don’t register.

There were howls of derision in the council chamber at the dog’s breakfast of regulations arising from what was described as contradictory, confusing, nonsensical and unworkable instructions.

The council sought legal advice but was no wiser after getting it.

Cr Glenda Mather wants to bury the issue like a smelly old bone and won support for her idea to write to the State Government pointing out that the legislation has to be re-drafted.

Gavin Steele, the senior council officer in charge of implementing registration, explained that it was explicit in the new law that every cat and dog in Queensland has to be registered.

“We are compelled to register, but we will not actively pursue people who say they own a rural working dog,” he said.

“The law doesn’t exempt them from registration but it exempts them from prosecution if they don’t register.”

Deputy Mayor Rose Swadling acknowledged that the issue had created much angst in the community, while Cr Bill Ludwig described it as complete nonsense.

Despite their obvious contempt, councillors agreed they had no choice but to introduce compulsory registration from September 1 when cats and rural working dogs will have to be registered for the first time.

But owners of animals which were previously exempt, who register within six months from that date, will receive a payment amnesty of up to one year.

The council has already agreed that it will charge $25 per year for a working dog, or $12 if the animal has been de-sexed as opposed to $95 entire and $27 de-sexed for a family pet.

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