Animal lover calls for subsidy | Noosa News | Local News in Noosa

Sunshine Beach veterinarian Peter Rickford and Joy Gilbert support desexing and microchipping of family pets.

Geoff Pottern

One of Noosa’s most dedicated animal lovers has called for government subsidisation of desexing of animals for pensioners and low income families to try to stem the heartache of abandoned animals.

Former Noosa RSPCA stalwart Joy Gilbert and the Lions Club of Noosa Heads are raising around $1000 a month at present to cover the club’s commitment to the Assisting People and Pets program.

They have joined forces with Sunshine Beach vet Peter Rickford to offer cut-rate desexing and microchipping of cats and dogs for people in the old Noosa Shire area on low income benefits.

Lions and Dr Rickford are meeting the costs 50-50 and the degree of discount varies from the cats and dogs, the sex of the animal and the weight of the dogs, but it can be around a third of the normal vet charge.

And with the Sunshine Coast council bringing in compulsory cat registration on July 1 and mandatory cat and dog microchipping by December this year, the offer is a timely incentive.

The council offers substantial registration discounts for desexed and chipped dogs.

Mrs Gilbert said more needed to be done to encourage desexing, especially for cats.

“There are so many of them being abandoned at animal refuges and it is so upsetting for the staff to have to put them down,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“It would be far more cost effective for (government) subsidisation than to be building bigger and bigger refuges.”

Mrs Gilbert gave credit to the council for its current program offering $25 microchipping for cats and dogs at community clinics.

“Microchipping is the most effective way to identify a cat or dog if they are lost or stolen, so I encourage all pet owners to take up this offer if their pets are not yet microchipped,” council spokesman Ron Thomas said.

“Council is partnering with Microchips Australia to deliver the program as a community service.”

Local Government Minister Desley Boyle said kittens and puppies being sold or given away would have to be microchipped before they were three months old by December 12.

Microchipping of existing cats and dogs older than 12 weeks will not be required unless they are changing owners.

Cats and dogs desexed after July 1 last year are required to have a permanent ear tattoo identifying the animal as desexed.

More than 70,000 cats and dogs have been microchipped in that time across the state.

The Lions Club of Noosa Heads will hold a fundraiser for this program on April 21 – a fashion parade at the River Deck Restaurant.

Tickets are $36.

If you want to help out call Bev 54741 630 or Joy on 5448 2586 for bookings.