Knox ratepayers fined after failing to receive pet registration reminders
THE KNOX council may use email or other technology to send out pet registration renewal notices.
It comes as another resident vowed to fight a fine for late payment of pet registration, saying she didn’t get a notice or reminder to pay.
Bayswater’s Anita Bazogias, 60, was one of several pet owners who contacted Knox Leader saying they had not received a reminder to pay their animals’ registrations but, after a visit from council officers, were hit with fines of $311, almost 10 times the cost of a tag.
She is planning to fight the fines in court.
The council claims it sent owners two reminders before officers visited homes.
Cats and dogs being funny1:43
Dogs and cats of the internet acting crazy, hilarious, stupid and most of all cute. Courtesy YouTube
Speaking to the Leader last week, Boronia’s Julie Smith said she was also fighting fines she got for her two cats, and said she didn’t get notice that her registration was due.
She also got a note in her letterbox asking her to call the council, and was still fined despite explaining the situation.
“I’ll be fighting this until I can no longer fight it – it’s just ridiculous,” Ms Smith said.
The council acting city development director Steven Dickson said they were satisfied renewals and reminders were sent out by post to pet owners last year.
But he said the council was looking at using email or other technology to send out renewals in the future.
He said people should contact Australia Post with any mail delivery inquiries.
When asked how many officers doorknocked homes and how much it cost the council, Mr Dickson said “appropriate staffing” was provided and it was conducted using existing resources.
Mr Dickson said in the past two years the council had successfully defended six pet registration matters in court.