Animal welfare

Vaccinations, worm and flea treatment 

Speak to your local vet about available vaccinations, worm and flea treatments for your pet. Taking proactive measures, such as using preventative measures against heart worm, can reduce the risk of your dog from getting a life-threatening disease.  

Identification

It is recommended that identification is attached to your dog’s collar with their name and your contact details to better assist Council in reuniting you with your pup if found wondering.  

Desexing

There a number of health benefits but having your pet desexed also decreases the number of unwanted puppies that find themselves homeless or in animal management centres, shelters or pounds across Australia. 

The benefits of desexing a dog

Health 

  • Reduced risk of getting cancer or other diseases of the reproductive organs. 

  • Females can suffer from physical and nutritional exhaustion if continually breeding. 

  • Pets generally live longer and healthier lives. 

Behavioural 

  • Reduces pets roaming and aggression 

  • Reduces territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors. 

  • Pets are more affectionate and become better companions. 

  • Eliminates "heat" cycles in female dogs and their efforts to get outside in search for a mate. 

  • Eliminates male dogs' urge to "mount" people's legs. 

Cost 

  • The cost of dog registration is substantially reduced for desexed dogs. 

  • No additional food or vet bills for the offspring. 

  • No need to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters of puppies. 

  • Save money from expensive surgeries from car accidents or fights, which are less likely to occur if your pet doesn't roam. 

Councils desexing subsidy

Isaac Regional Council is committed to reducing the number of unwanted dogs in the region and is proud to announce the Desexing Subsidy Program. The initiative aims to offer eligible Isaac residents a voucher valued at $100 to assist with the payment of the desexing procedure from selected veterinary clinics. 

To be eligible for a voucher you must be: 

  • A resident of the Isaac Regional Council area 

  • Holder of a Queensland Pensioner Concession card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or Queensland Repatriation Health Card – for all conditions issue by the Department of Veterans Affairs or in receipt of a War Widow/War Widower pension/ allowance or other identified person/s as approved by the CEO. 

  • Own a non-desexed dog that is registered and microchipped if the dog is over 12 weeks of age 

If the dog is not microchipped when making the application, the owner is required to make an undertaking to microchip the dog at the time of redeeming the desexing voucher at the nominated vet clinic at their own cost. 

To apply complete the Domestic Dog Desexing Voucher Application Form(PDF, 201KB) and submit with proof of current pensioner status to one of Council’s Customer Service Centres or complete online

An application for a dog must be made in the name of the registered owner of the dog who meets the eligibility requirements. Vouchers expire after 90 days from the date of issue. A household is entitled to a maximum of two desexing vouchers in two years. 

Where are desexing vouchers accepted?

  • Moranbah Veterinary Clinic 

  • Sarina Veterinary Surgery 

  • Clermont Veterinary Surgery 

  • Torenbeek Veterinary Clinic, Rockhampton 

  • Valley Veterinary Surgery, Walkerston 

 

 

Responsible owners and breeding

Deciding on whether to have your doggo desexed or not is a question that every responsible pet owner asks.   

Breeding dogs  

The Queensland Government's dog breeder registration laws promote responsible ownership and the responsible breeding of dogs due to concerns about the welfare of dogs and puppies sold and supplied in Queensland.  

Under this legislation, all persons who breed dogs, apart from genuine working dog breeders (in certain circumstances), must have an identification number, known as a supply number. This means that whether you are a regular breeder or your dog has puppies that you provide to family and friends, you need to have a supply number. 

A supply number relates to you and not your dog. So once you have one, it is yours for life. 

It’s very easy to obtain a Supply Number. All a dog breeder must do is register on the Queensland Dog Breeder Register(PDF, 197KB). This can be done prior to any pups being born, but must be done within 28 days of their puppies being born. 

If you sell a dog or puppy through a pet shop or retailer, they must use the supply number identifying you as the breeder. If someone else gives away, supplies, sells or advertises your puppies, they must use the supply number identifying you as the breeder. 

From 26 May 2017, it is a breach of the law to giveaway, supply, sell or advertise a dog or puppies without a supply number that identifies the origin of the dog. 

It is an offence if you fail to register as a Breeder and you are giving away, supplying, selling or advertising your dogs’ puppies born on or after 26 May 2017. Anyone with a female dog that has a litter is classed as a breeder. 

See the Queensland Dog Breeder Register(PDF, 197KB) for more information about breeding dogs in Queensland. For further information, please call the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or visit their website here.

Selling or giving away dogs

All dogs aged 12 weeks and over must be registered with Council, as a requirement of The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (the Act). 

The Act also states that dogs must be microchipped before:  

  • being sold (seller's responsibility)  
  • being given away (responsibility on the person giving away the animal)

See the Queensland Dog Breeder Register(PDF, 197KB) for more information about selling or giving away dogs.  

Desexing  

Desexing your dog instead of breeding dogs can save you money and time with no additional food, vet bills or cost associated with microchipping the puppies required. Owners of desexed dogs also don’t need to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters of puppies.