Pet Desexing Program

Overview

Program CLOSED due to all funds being exhausted.   We are no longer taking applications to be waitlisted.  Those on current waitlist will be notified first if availability arises from cancellations.   

 

A Subsidised Companion Animal Desexing & Microchipping Program is being offered to eligible residents within our Municipality to encourage responsible pet ownership through desexing and ensuring animals are microchipped and registered at the same time.

The program is made possible through the Victoria State Government’s Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program with the backing of our local Veterinary Clinics.

The program will help subsidise the cost of having your companion dog or cat desexed and if they are not microchipped and/or registered this will be included.

Free registration is provided under amnesty, no fines will be issued for unregistered animals accepted to this program.

Cats and dogs can produce offspring from an early age and can have many litters of kittens or puppies during their lives. By desexing your pets you can help reduce the numbers of unplanned and unwanted cats and dogs. Desexing your pet can also have a positive health and behavioural advantages, such as reducing the incidence of roaming, disease and aggression in cats and dogs. 

This Subsidised Companion Animal Desexing & Microchipping Program is available from 1st February 2024 to 31st July 2024 or until funds are exhausted. Council wants to reduce the population of stray and unwanted cats and dogs in our municipality and see this program as first step. 

Rural City of Wangaratta residents who are eligible and wish to take part in this program can do so by filling out the application form and obtaining a Voucher from the Customer Service at 62-68 Ovens Street, Wangaratta. 

Eligible residents must live within the Rural City of Wangaratta municipality and hold one of the following cards;

  • Pension
  • Health Care
  • Low Income Health Care
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health
  • Veterans Affairs Card
 

How much will it cost to get my dog or cat desexed under the scheme?  

Cats - $60

Dogs - $150

Council will waive the initial registration fees for non-registered animals where the pet is desexed as part of the program. The free registration is provided under amnesty, NO fines will apply to unregistered cats & dogs accepted to the program. 

Ongoing/renewal registration fees will be at owners costs but will be lower – as applies to all desexed dogs and cats. 

Dog & cat

What do I need to do to access the discounted pet desexing program? 

  1. Visit Council’s Customer Service Centre in-person at 62-68 Ovens Street, Wangaratta and fill out the registration form and pay the co-contribution amount for your animal (Cat: $60 and Dog: $150)
  2. A member of Council’s Customer Service team will issue you with a voucher form that will be valid for one month.
  3. Call your preferred Veterinary Clinic and make an appointment stating that you have a voucher and provide details.
  4. Transport your animal to the selected Veterinary Clinic for the appointment and present your voucher on arrival. 
  5. Adhere to the aftercare requirements for your pet as prescribed by the vet to ensure your animal full recovers from the procedure.

For those with mobility issues who cannot attend in person please call Rural City of Wangaratta Customer Service on 03 5722 0888 to discuss your options to participate in the program.

Why is Council offering a low-cost desexing scheme? 

Every year, Council’s pound services takes in a number of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies that are either strays or have been surrendered and need to be re-homed largely from unwanted litters or aggressive behaviour.  

Desexing is an effective strategy to reduce strays and prevent unwanted pregnancies in dogs and cats. 

Aside from preventing accidental litters, there are many health and behavioural benefits to de-sexing. 

  • Desexing commonly reduces behaviour problems such as roaming, aggression and urine marking in males. 
  • In females it prevents mating behaviour and false pregnancy. Reducing the desire to roam also reduces the risk of being in a traumatic accident such as being hit by a car. 
  • Desexed animals are generally less likely to get diseases and certain illnesses such as mammary cancer and uterine infections in females and prostate problems in males. 

elizabeth collar

What are the Terms and Conditions?  

  1. Maximum of two vouchers per household will be permitted. 
  2. Limited number of vouchers are available. 
  3. Only owner of animal can purchase voucher.
  4. Priority will be given to those who hold an eligible Pension card, Health Care card and Senior’s card. 
  5. Receivers must be able to prove they live in the Rural City of Wangaratta Municipality. 
  6. Vouchers are valid for one month from the date of issue (you must schedule your appointment with the Vet Clinic) . 
  7. It is the responsibility of the voucher holder to book and transport their animal to the selected Veterinary Clinic. 
  8. Rural City of Wangaratta Council holds no responsibility for additional fees that may be required for the care of your animal.
  9. Rural City of Wangaratta Council reserves the right to refuse any application.    

Where can I desex my pets?

Dr Paws Wangaratta Veterinary Clinic

 

51 MacKay St, Wangaratta

Ph. 03 5722 4200

https://drpaws.com.au/wangaratta

Glenrowan Veterinary Clinic

 

56 Gladstone Street, Glenrowan

Ph. 03 5766 2661

https://www.glenrowanvet.com.au 

 Wangaratta Veterinary Clinic

 

3 Baker Street, Wangaratta

Ph. 03 5721 4000

https://www.wangarattavetclinic.com

 Warby Street Veterinary Clinic

 

32 Warby Street, Wangaratta

Ph. 03 5721 7177

https://warbyvet.com.au

How do I care for my pet post surgery?

On arriving home you should keep your pet warm and comfortable by providing a soft clean bed, ideally in a quiet and warm room. Unless otherwise instructed, your pet should be offered a drink of water and a small amount of their regular food. Ensure your pet has access to their litter tray or access to a place for their toileting needs. 

Please keep your pet indoors for at least 5 days following the surgery, to minimise their level of activity and minimise damage to the surgery site. You should discourage any jumping or activity that will cause excessive stretching of the wound, especially during the first five days post-operatively. 

Your pet may have had a tube placed in their trachea (windpipe) during the anaesthetic - this can occasionally cause mild irritation and a slight cough as an after-effect.  If so, it will settle down over the next few days, however should it persist then contact your local veterinary practice. 

It is only natural that your pet may try to clean the operation site, however, if this becomes excessive, then there is a danger of the stitches being pulled out or infection being introduced into the wound.  If you have purchased an Elizabethan-type collar to prevent your pet chewing then please ensure it is used, otherwise please contact your local practice, and ask for one.  Not surprisingly, many pets find these collars strange at first and will attempt to remove them.  However, after a short period most animals will settle and tolerate wearing the collar.  Once accustomed, it is better to keep the collar on permanently, rather than to take it on and off.  Remember - it only takes a few seconds of unobserved chewing for a pet to undo its stitches.  If your pet does succeed in removing any of its stitches, then please call your local vet as soon as possible.  

The wound should normally be clean with the edges together and the skin a normal or slightly reddish/pink colour.  In pale skinned cats bruising may be seen around the wound.  This may not appear until a few days after the operation, and in some cases can seem excessive in comparison to the size of the incision, however this is due to seepage of blood under the skin edges.

Please contact your regular veterinary provider if you see any of the following at the wound: 

  • Continuous seepage or a large quantity of blood. 
  •  Intermittent blood seepage 
  • Any swellings, excessive redness of the skin or discharge. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of desexing my pet?

Desexing can have positive health and behavioural advantages. 

Your pet may roam far from home to find another animal to mate with. Pets that are not desexed may jump fences and travel considerable distances to find the source of the scent that attracts them. Dogs have been known to mate through mesh fencing. 


A desexed pet may: 

  • Live longer and be less likely to develop reproductive related cancers.
  • Desexing decrease the chances of developing mammary cancer, especially when done before your pet's first heat. Mammary cancer is fatal in 90% of cats and 50% of dogs. 
  • It decreases the chances of infections of the uterus, which can be life-threatening. 
  • It decreases the chances of developing cystic ovaries or uterine cancer. 
  • It decreases the chances of cancers including prostate cancer, testicular cancer and peri-anal cancer.
  • Be less prone to wander. Desexed animals are far less inclined to go in search of a mate. Your pet should be confined at all times but if it does go wandering from your property, it could get lost or injured.
  • Not mark its territory by 'spraying' in the house. 
  • Be less likely to develop aggressive tendencies. 
  • No longer be sexually frustrated by pursuing another dog or cat on heat but not being able to reach them. 

Other advantages of de-sexing 

  • Reduced registration fee (undesexed animal registration fees are higher)
  • You won’t have to house female pets on heat to protect them from males attracted by the scent.
  • Reducing the population of stray or unwanted cats reduces the damage they can do to our native flora and fauna.
  • You won’t have to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters. 
  • Decreases the desire to roam, which can result in unfortunate situations like getting lost, or hit by a car. 

What happens if I don't desex my pet?

Animals not desexed are known as being entire animals. Keeping your pet entire can be costly and attract higher animal registration fees.

An entire female dog needs to be kept confined in a secure room or pen with a roof to prevent entire dogs from mating with her. 

The same applies to female cats who also go to great lengths to mate when on heat. 

Both cats and dogs can have large litters that need to be looked after for six to seven weeks before they can be given away or sold.

They also need to be vaccinated and weaned onto solid food during this time. 

My pet has a litter. What do I do?

Allowing your pet to have a litter should not be undertaken lightly. Pregnancy can increase the risk of reproductive cancers and complications can arise during birth. Consult with your vet before your animal mates and throughout their pregnancy. 

If your pet does have a litter, you are responsible for the offspring until you’ve found new owners for them. Puppies and kittens must not be dumped or left to fend for themselves. 

Dumping puppies and kittens carries a penalty of up to $1000. As well as being inhumane, dumping animals adds to stray and feral populations. 

If you are unable to find caring homes for unwanted puppies or kittens, surrender them to Council’s Animal Management and Compliance Officers, a local shelter, or the RSPCA. 

Will I get reduced registration fees for desexing my pets?

Yes- Council offers reduced registration fees for dogs and cats that have been desexed.

What's involved in desexing?

Pets of any age can be desexed, even as young as eight weeks. However, the Australian Veterinary Association recommends de-sexing your pet before it is three months old. 

Desexing is a straightforward procedure that causes minimal discomfort to your pet. Most pets fully recover in 24 hours. Your vet can answer any questions about the procedure and advise you about caring for your pet after the operation. Most cats and dogs bounce back very quickly. 

 

Some common myths 

  • A desexed pet will become overweight. 
    False. Desexing your pet does not make it fat or lazy. Only lack of exercise and too much food make pets overweight. 
  • Pets lose their personality after desexing. 
    False. Your pet will retain her or his personality after the operation. You might however, find that your pet calms down a little. 
  • Females should have one litter before being desexed. 
    False. There is no benefit in letting your pet have a litter before it is spayed (de-sexed). In fact, it is better for your pet not to have a litter or a period of being on heat before being spayed. 

Want to know more?

For more information, visit Agriculture Victoria's animal welfare

  • The site has useful information about your rights and responsibilities as a pet owner.
  • It covers your pet and your neighbourly responsibilities,
  • Why it is important to have your animal Microchipped
  • Why animals must be registered.