There’s a variety of pet names on the Sunshine Coast, but there’s one that’s more pawpular than the rest.
Bella is the number one-ranked dog and cat name in the region, according to Sunshine Coast Council, which is urging owners to renew registrations.
Other popular dog names are Charlie, Molly, Ruby and Buddy, while favourite names for cats include Charlie, Luna, Molly and Mia.
There are almost 53,000 dogs and more than 11,300 cats registered in the region, which is an increase of about 6% on last year.
Service excellence portfolio councillor Christian Dickson reminded residents that registrations were required by law.
“We anticipate there are many not registered, particularly with so many new residents moving to the Sunshine Coast over the past 12 months,” he said.
“New residents can transfer their cat or dog registration from another region for free if registered within 14 days of moving to the Sunshine Coast. So if you’ve recently moved, now is the time to contact us and register your pet.
“Or if you’ve added a new pet to your family or had them de-sexed, get in touch and update your details.”
Pet owners have until September 30 to renew their registration, which helps the council reunite lost pets with their owners as well as provide funding for services such as education programs to promote responsible pet ownership, care of lost animals and animal management within the community.
Registration fees also support our pet partnerships through the council’s grants programs.
Information gathered from pet registration helps the council plan for dog parks and other pet facilities.
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Significant discounts apply for de-sexed and micro-chipped pets, with the cost being $15, or free for pensioners.
There is the option of a lifetime registration for de-sexed and micro-chipped cats – only $85 with no annual renewal fee required.
Registration is free for pets under six months old.
The annual registration period for cats and dogs starts on October 1 each year and runs through until September 30 the following year.
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There are several convenient payment methods available, including online payments via MyCouncil or BPay, over the phone or at a council customer contact centre. Where possible, online payment is preferred.
Pet owners can also update their pet’s details, including changes to de-sexing, micro-chipping and pensioner details or cancelling your pet’s registration if you no longer own your pet, via MyCouncil or an online form on council’s website.
For more information, visit council’s website and search for ‘Pet Registration’.
Dog registration is required under the Queensland Government Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 and cat registration is required under Sunshine Coast Council Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011.
Top pet names
The top-five dog names registered with council are:
- Bella
- Charlie
- Molly
- Ruby
- Buddy
The top-five cat names registered with council are:
- Bella
- Charlie
- Luna
- Molly
- Mia