PET owners could have to pay as much as $195 if their dog or cat falls under the criteria for the NSW Government's new annual permits.
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The permits are being introduced as part of the government's commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership and improving animal welfare standards.
From July 1, owners of cats not desexed by four months of age will be required to pay an $80 annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.
An annual permit of $195 will apply to owners of dogs of a restricted breed or dogs that have been declared dangerous, again in addition to their one-off registration fee.
The permits are to be paid through either the online NSW Pet Registry or through the local council.
Bathurst Regional Council has been open in the past about the need for improvement in pet ownership, particularly regarding dogs.
There are far too many animals that aren't registered, and council has to continually remind people to secure their yards and not walk their dogs without a leash.
Failing to secure dogs leads to attacks on both people and other animals.
According to director of Environmental, Planning and Building Services, Neil Southorn, the problem hasn't gone away.
"Council is considering a number of strategies to improve the rate of registrations of both dogs and cats," he said.
"There are still too many instances of dog attacks, even one is too many, and dogs escaping from their owners' premises, so please keep your dog under control."
Thankfully, he said there aren't many dogs in Bathurst that have been declared dangerous, as most are surrendered to council.
Dogs can be declared dangerous if they have, without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal or repeatedly displayed threatening behaviour.
Mr Southorn said that it is not a lifetime declaration, and an owner can "make an application to council to revoke a dangerous dog declaration after a period of 12 months".
For more information about the new annual permits, click here.