Owning a pet can be a very rewarding and exciting experience, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. You need to ensure your pet not only has the basics of food, water, play, shelter and veterinary health care, you also need to ensure your pet meets the legal requirements of the Dog Act 1976 and the Cat Act 2011.

Microchipping

Microchipping is available by appointment with a nurse, takes barely minutes and will help reunite you and your pet if they become lost. A microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is implanted between the shoulder blades, under the skin. The information that you provide is stored on a national database so that any vet clinic, ranger service or animal rescue can locate your details easily. You must microchip your pet by the time they are 3 months old. Any pet that is being rehomed, must be microchipped (or provided with a prepaid microchip voucher) before it changes hands. This includes breeders with 8 week old puppies. It’s crucial you remember to update your details with the database if you move house or change phone number. Midwest Vet Centre use the Australasian Animal Registry and you can update your details by visiting www.aar.org.au

Sterilisation

You must, by law sterilise your cat. This must be done by the time they are 6 months of age. If your pet is a dog, sterilisation is a decision each pet owner needs to make. Breeding your dog can be expensive and very time consuming. There are health and behavioural benefits to sterilising, and registration with our local council is cheaper for a sterilised dog. We perform these routine surgeries Monday through to Friday, and your pet will go home on the same day they are admitted. There are sterilisation subsidies available for Pensioners and Health Care Card holders.

There are fines of up to $5000 that may be imposed for not meeting these legal requirements.

Safe Socialisation

Be mindful of how your dog reacts with other dogs, and also be attentive to oncoming body language from other dogs. Keep your pet on a leash at all times, unless you are in an Approved Leash-Free area. Remember to always take water and poo bags with you on any outing, always clean up after your pet and be considerate of others sharing a public space.
Did you know that there are Approved Dog Exercise Areas in Geraldton that are Leash-Free?
Click the link here to view the map

Preventative Health and Routine Veterinary Care

Did you know that it’s one of the RSPCA Five Freedoms to be free from pain, injury and disease?

 

Your pet, just like us, needs a general health and dental check every year to be able to quickly pick up on anything that might not be quite right. Vaccinations, dental scale and polishes, wellness blood tests, skin checks, and flea & worm preventative treatments are some of the reasons your pet might visit Midwest Vet Centre. Ensuring you have the funds available for whatever your pet might need is crucial, as you never know what is around the corner and we do require payment in full on the day of treatment. Many clients make small weekly payments onto their pet’s file at the clinic, slowly building up a credit that can be used when the unforeseen occurs. In the case of emergencies or larger unexpected bills, VetPay is an external payment option that you can apply for to ensure your pet receives the appropriate and immediate treatment. Please note that with any financial decision, you need to do your research to ensure it’s the right option for you. Visit www.vetpay.com.au for more information

Any questions?

Give us a call! At Midwest Vet Centre, we consider our pets as a part of the family. You can trust we’ll treat your pets as our family too. Our vets are available by appointment 6 days a week, whether it’s at the clinic or a home/farm visit. We are also a part of the After Hours Emergency Rotation between Chapman Animal Hospital, Dongara Veterinary Hospital and Midwest Vet Centre that can be called on 0407 471 933. Please call us on 99643 671 to make your pet’s next appointment so we can provide you with the latest and greatest in pet care.