Responsible pet ownership
As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to provide the necessary care to keep your pet(s) safe and healthy. You must also be aware of your obligations and be considerate of other residents while sharing public spaces.
As a responsible pet owner you must:
- microchip and desex cats and dogs over 3 months of age
- register your pets with Council
- display pet registration tags when outside of home
- secure your animal(s) at all times within your property
- keep your dog on lead when in public
- use voice or hand commands to control your dog when in designated free roam areas
- clean up animal waste
People can legally object to:
You can be fined and taken to court for serious or repeat offences.
Visit the Local laws for pet owners page for more information about your requirements as a pet owner.
Vaccinations
Part of responsible pet ownership is to make sure animals receive full vet care. This includes providing your animal with regular:
- worming medication, including heart worm
- flea treatment
- yearly booster immunisations.
Please note: Vaccination certificates are not required to register your pet with Council. Vaccination certificates are not accepted as proof of desexing.
First 30 Forever Furry Friends
Council’s annual First 30 Forever Furry Friends program incentivises Frankston residents to choose to adopt their new pet.
All 30 pets for 2023 have now been adopted, the program will return in 2024
First 30 Forever Furry Friends:
- Council covers the adoption fee from the Lost Dogs Home and waives the pet registration cost for the two years (pro rata)
- Includes any cat or dog adopted from The Lost Dogs’ Home’s adoption centres located in Cranbourne or North Melbourne.
- Adopted animals will be desexed, microchipped and vaccinated.
Who is eligible?
- Residents of the City of Frankston who will register their animal to a property within the municipality
- Standard Lost Dogs’ Home adoption policy and procedures will apply
Visit dogshome.com for more information about The Lost Dogs’ Home and to view animals currently up for adoption.
Dog attacks
You are legally and financially responsible for all damages if your dog threatens or attacks another person.
Visit our Dog attacks page to learn more or to report an attack.
Discount Desexing Vouchers
Council offers Discounted Desexing Vouchers that cover one-third (1/3) of the cost of desexing cats & dogs for eligible residents.
Who is eligible?
- Be a Frankston resident
- Hold one of the following cards: Pension Card, Healthcare Card & War Veterans Card
- And, you must register your pet with Frankston City Council once your pet has been desexed
How to apply for the Pet Desexing Voucher
- Visit one of Frankston City Council’s Service Centres:
- Frankston Civic Centre
- Seaford Service Centre
- Langwarrin Service Centre
- Carrum Downs Library
2. Complete a Desexing Voucher Form and present your eligible card.
Please note: Vouchers are non-transferable and must be used within 28 days of issue. When the animal is desexed they must be registered with Council within 7 days. Maximum 2 vouchers per household.
Discounted dog obedience training
Council offers a partial reimbursement incentive for owners who undertake obedience training for their dogs.
Reimbursement is limited to one course per dog and 75% of the fee to a maximum of $250.00 paid. (From July 2024)
Evidence of completion of the obedience training with an approved training organisation must be provided to qualify for the reimbursement. (conditions apply).
For more information please see the Fact sheet(PDF, 453KB) and Application Form(PDF, 761KB).
Pet Sanctuary Program
The Pet Sanctuary program offers free boarding of animals for Frankston residents during times of hardship, including homelessness and family violence.
For more information about the Pet Sanctuary program please contact 1300 322 322 or info@Frankston.vic.gov.au
Cat curfew
Frankston City Council has a cat curfew in place between dusk and dawn. This means you must keep your cat within your property boundary at night. We recommended that cats be secured to your property at all times.
Your cat can be kept:
- in your yard where the cat is unable to leave your property boundary
- inside your property
- in a suitable cat enclosure
You can visit the DELWP website for information on cat enclosures and cat proof fencing.
Confining your pet to your property
Confining pets to your yard helps keep local wildlife and the community safe.
Council's cat curfew requires cats be secured to their property between dusk to dawn.
Dogs, and other pets, must be secured to their property at all times. This means your yard must have an escape-proof secure fence and a closed gate. Visitors to your home must be able to enter your property safely, without being stopped by your dog.
Summer care
To keep them safe during summer months, your pet needs:
- cool, shady areas in your house or backyard
- cool drinking water - try some ice blocks in their water bowl
- pet sunscreen is available for pink noses prone to sunburn
- up to date flea and tick treatments
- walks in the early morning or evening to avoid burning their paws.
Pets die in hot cars
During warmer months, leave your pet at home rather than alone in a car.
Cars heat up very quickly, even on mild days. It takes less than 6 minutes for an animal to suffer severe heat exhaustion in a car and die.
Pet Licence 101 online quiz
The Lost Dogs Home encourages new pet owners to conduct the Pet Licence 101 online quiz.
This free educational tool teaches prospective pet owners about:
- dog and cat welfare
- responsible pet ownership
- the local government requirements of owning a pet.
Take the quiz now
Pet Exchange Register
If you plan to sell or give away a dog or cat online, you will need to visit the Pet Exchange Register (PER) website .
The PER generates a unique source number which you must display in all advertisements. This source number is required when microchipping a dog or cat born after 1 July 2020.
It is an offence to advertise animals without:
- a valid microchip number
- Pet Exchange Register source number
To register or login to the Pet Exchange Register, please visit the website below:
Pet Exchange Register
If you have any questions, please call the PER project team on 136 186 or email per@ecodev.vic.gov.au.