BAYSIDE IN FIVE: PETS
It’s no secret that we love our pets here in bayside! The bay is a pet paradise with so many wonderful off-lead parks, walking trails, dog-friendly beaches, and outdoor events that dogs are welcome (and actively encouraged) to attend.
We know that our community wants nothing but the best for their furry friends. For the latest Bayside In 5, we’ve put together our top 5 tips for everything you need to know about keeping your pets happy and healthy here in bayside.
Adopt Don’t Shop
Are you looking for the perfect new addition to your family? There are so many beautiful pets urgently looking for homes. The period right after Christmas is especially busy for many local animal welfare organisations. Remember to take the time to consider the responsibilities of bringing a new pet into your home. They are a longtime commitment, but they are worth it!
There are so many reasons to adopt. In many cases, rescuing a pet means saving their life. Older cats and dogs whose previous owners have surrendered are often already toilet trained, requiring less time and work to settle into your home!
Please book your appointment at one of our local pet shelters. You never know who you might meet!
Visit the Port Phillip Council website for a list of local animal shelters.
Register your pet with Council
Whether you’re new to pet ownership or just new to bayside, the first step to responsible pet ownership is to ensure that each of your pets is registered with the council. All pets need to be microchipped, desexed and registered by the time they are three months old, and it is also mandatory to renew their membership every twelve months. (Don’t worry, the council will let you know when it’s time to renew!)
Not only does registering your pet help to keep them safe if they find themselves lost, but the money from all pet registrations goes back into the community through funding vital research and providing support to local animal welfare services.
To register your pet, you will need your pet’s microchip number. Please visit https://portphillip.vic.gov.au/animal-registration for more information
Not sure if your pet is registered? Call ASSIST 9209 6777
Have your pet’s health checked regularly at one of our fantastic local vets
Our pets are part of the family, so we want to keep them healthy! Our animal friends can’t tell us if they’re feeling unwell, so it’s our responsibility to ensure they are taken for a regular check-up at the vet and given routine vaccinations. We recommend taking your pets to the vet at least once a year. Never leave it to chance - if you’re worried about your pet's health, whether they seem more tired than usual, aren’t excited for mealtime or don’t want to go for a long walk around the bay, take them to your local vet ASAP.
New to bayside and looking for a local vet?
Elwood Vet: 116 Ormond Road, Elwood
Port Phillip Animal Hospital: 46-48 Mills St, Albert Park
Port Melbourne Veterinary Clinic: 109 Bay St, Port Melbourne
EMERGENCY VET:
Animal Emergency Centre 248 Wickham Rd, Highett
Explore our many wonderful off-leash dog parks and beaches
While some of our pets love nothing more than staying at home (cats, we’re looking at you), simply saying the word ‘walk’ is all you need to excite a dog eager to explore the neighbourhood. Melbourne's bayside is known for its wonderful pet community, and many of our residents choose to live here because of the number of beautiful places to take their furry friends for their daily walks.
Not all beaches and parks by the bay are off-leash, meaning you’ll need to keep your four-legged friend close by. Maintaining a distance gives our more shy pets a chance to enjoy their walk without the added stress of encouraging other dogs. Remember to let fellow dog owners indicate whether their companion is friendly or not to avoid any potential problems.
Are you wondering where to take your dog for its next adventure? This map from the City of Port Phillip is the perfect guide.
Keep our bayside clean and scoop the poop!
We love having our pets in our lives for so many reasons, but cleaning up after them during a long walk isn’t one of them. It’s no one’s favourite job, but the only thing worse than scooping your own dog’s poop is having to scoop up another dog’s poop (or, even worse - stepping in it!)
The bayside community is passionate about keeping our communal areas clean (read our blog on Keeping Bayside Clean to learn more!) Plenty of bins and disposable bags are located at our beaches, parks and along our walkways to make cleaning up after your pet easy. Why not treat yourself (and your furry best friend) with a visit to Urban Woof on Bay Street? Check out their range of dog walking accessories, including biodegradable bags and this beautiful cross-body dog training bag, to make your next clean-up a chicer experience.
And if you would like more information on keeping a pet in your bayside rental home, please get in touch with the team at Chisholm & Gamon today!