Cats And Dogs - Where Does Their Money Go?
The Victorian Government has been asked to explain how it is spending the millions of dollars it collects for dog and cat registrations every year.
The funding is supposed to be used to promote responsible dog and cat ownership and/or animal welfare.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has questioned the Agriculture Minister about the revenue.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, the Government collects $4 per cat or dog registered with every Council.
In 2019 alone, local councils recorded 662,866 dogs and 221,548 cats.
“By my reckoning, the total sum remitted under this section of the Act is therefore more than $3.5 million each year.
“I need to ask the minister to explain exactly how this money has been spent and to consider an alternative proposal for the tax,” Mrs McArthur said in the Victorian Parliament.
Given the lack of accounting for these funds, Mrs McArthur has suggested the money could go towards supporting dog and cat rescue centres across the state.
The Ararat Dog Rescue is an example.
“It is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers and is dedicated to rescuing dogs and placing them in foster homes until adoption can be arranged.
“They, like so many other groups across Western Victoria, do a phenomenal job in caring for abandoned and otherwise homeless pet dogs, and they do so voluntarily,” she said.
Mrs McArthur has suggested the Minister could hand back the $4 collected for each registration for any animal successfully adopted from a rescue sanctuary.
“Doing so would encourage local councils to adopt a similar incentive scheme in their licensing.
“It wouldn’t solve every problem.
“But it would reward pet owners who want to help abandoned animals – and councils would still get their licence fee for pedigree animals.”
10 May 2021