Pets & Animal Management

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Pet Desexing

Responsible Pet Ownership

Council encourages responsible pet ownership through desexing your pet. Cats and dogs are able to start their reproductive lives at a very young age, and throughout their lifetime can potentially have many litters of kittens or puppies.

Once the scent of a cat or dog on heat has been detected, pets that are not desexed will go to enormous lengths to mate, including jumping over fences, and travelling considerable distances to find the scent's source. Dogs have even been known to mate through mesh fencing.

If you don't intend to breed with your pet then it is best to have them desexed.  This prevents any accidents happening and to you don't have to worry about having to predict when your pet will come on heat or worry about your entire male getting out of your property to try to find a female on heat.  

Keeping your pet entire can be a costly. An entire female dog needs to be kept confined in a secure room or pen with a roof to prevent entire dogs from mating with her when she is on heat.  The same applies to female cats that will go to great lengths to mate when on heat.  Both cats and dogs can have large litters, which need to be looked after for six to seven weeks before they can be weaned and given away or sold.  They need to be vaccinated and weaned onto solid food during this time.

Also allowing you pet to have a litter should not be undertaken lightly.  It can increase the risk of reproductive cancers and complications can arise during the birth as well.  You should consult with your Vet before mating and throughout pregnancy.
 

Why Desex Your Pet?

Not only does desexing help reduce the problem of unwanted puppies and kittens, but it can also result in positive health & behavioural advantages. A desexed pet may:

  • Live longer & be less likely to develop reproductive related cancers
  • Be less prone to wander
  • Not mark its territory by 'spraying' in the house
  • Be less likely to develop aggressive tendencies
  • Eliminate sexual frustration of the dog or cat pursuing another on heat but not being able to reach her.
     

Other Advantages of Desexing

Reduced registration fee

  • Desexed animals are far less inclined to go in search of a mate - if your pet goes wandering from your property (it should of course, be confined at all times), it could get lost or injured.
  • Desexing eliminates the need to house female pets to protect them from keen males that are attracted by her scent if she is on heat.
  • By reducing the population of stray or unwanted cats, you in turn reduce the damage these strays can do to our native flora and fauna.
  • You will not have the problem of having to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters of puppies or kittens.

The Desexing Voucher Scheme

The City of Port Phillip offers reduced registration fees if your cat or dog is desexed, as well as desexing vouchers for pensioners, enabling them to have their pet desexed at a participating local vet for a reduced fee. 

To apply for a desexing voucher, you must supply one of the following cards;

  • A Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Social Security or the Department of Veteran Affairs
  • A Gold Card specifying War Widow issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs
  • A Gold Card specifying TPI issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs

Please note:  Health Care Cards and Seniors Cards are not eligible.

The voucher can be obtained by visiting the ASSIST counter at any of the Town Hall Locations.

Present the desexing voucher intact to your vet where you will be required to pay two-thirds of the cost of the procedure.  The City of Port Phillip will then pay your vet the remaining one-third of the cost.
 

What's Involved in Desexing?

Pets of any age can be desexed, even as young as eight weeks.  However, the Australian Veterinary Association recommends desexing your pet by 3 months of age.  It is also a good idea to get your pet microchipped as well, while it is at the vet.
The operation is undertaken by a vet and is a very straightforward procedure, causing minimal discomfort to your pet - most pets are fully recovered within twenty-four hours. Discuss with your vet any questions about what's involved and how to care for your pet after the operation.
 

Some Common Myths

  • A desexed pet will become fat.
    Desexing your pet does not make it fat or lazy, only lack of exercise and too much food will do this.
  • Pets lose their personality after desexing.
    False. Your pet will retain his or her own, very individual personality after the operation. The only 'character' change resulting from desexing may be that your pet calms down a little.
  • The operation is painful.
    Pets will experience some tenderness in the affected area immediately after the operation. Your vet can advise you on caring for your pet after desexing. Most cats and dogs bounce back very quickly.
  • Females should have one litter first
    No. There is no benefit in letting your pet have a litter before it is spayed- it is actually better for her not to have a litter or a period of being on heat before being spayed.
  • Think carefully before letting your female pet have a litter, as you are responsible for keeping the offspring until you find responsible owners for them. Puppies and kittens must not be dumped or left to fend for themselves. Dumping puppies and kittens carries a penalty of up to $1000. Apart from being inhumane, these animals could add to the stray and feral cat or dog populations. A more responsible course of action, if you are unable to find a caring home for an unwanted litter of puppies or kittens, is to surrender them to the RSPCA. 
     

More Information

Responsible Pet Ownership - www.pets.info.vic.gov.au
A state government site with useful information about your rights and responsibilities both to your pet and to your neighbours.

Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Animal Management.