Desexing and microchipping

Desexing and microchipping your pet are an important part of being a responsible pet owner. Microchipping not only identifies your pet for life, but it can help save your pets life. Desexing your animal will help control numbers of unwanted animals.

Microchipping is a permanent form of identification for your pet. Microchipping your dog or cat is a great way to ensure that your pet can be easily identified if it strays or becomes lost. Vets, animal shelters and local Councils can scan the microchip and then contact you to let you know the location of your pet.

Veterinarians and some animal shelters can microchip your cat or dog.

When you have your dog or cat microchipped, the microchip is implanted just under the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of the neck. Microchipping is a common and safe procedure, takes a few seconds and is painless.

To allow traceability of sellers of pets, it is an offence to advertise the sale of a dog or cat unless the microchip identification number of the animal is included in the advertisement or notice. For more Information visit Agriculture Victoria.

Desexing your dog or cat prevents unwanted young being born and has health benefits. Desexed animals are also generally not as aggressive and are less likely to wander away.

It is not compulsory to desex your dog or cat, however if you do desex your dog or cat you will receive a substantial reduction on the fee when you Register your pet with Mount Alexander Shire Council.

To help prevent the overpopulation of unwanted cats in our municipality, Council has joined with the Mount Alexander Animal Welfare, Castlemaine Vet Clinic, Healthy Pets Veterinary Clinic and Maldon Vet Clinic to establish a unique cat desexing program. The vouchers can be purchased by concession card holders for $50.00 for a female cat and $30.00 for a male cat.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) in partnership with the Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) have also developed a scheme to help cover the cost of desexing cats and dogs for low income earners. These vouchers are available to people with a current Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

The vouchers can only be obtained if the animal is currently registered and vaccinated.
Vouchers can be purchased from the Civic Centre. Contact us for more information.