Visiting Mareeba vet Dr Justin Little will be in Cooktown from 26-28 February to help Cook Shire Council with the It’s Hip to Snip desexing campaign. Photo: Supplied (Cook Shire Council).
Your four-legged mate may not immediately think so, but Cook Shire Council is telling the community “it’s hip to snip” as it provides free desexing for male dogs from 26-28 February, 2024.
Extending on the success of last year’s desexing program for female dogs, the council’s animal management team is this time offering the service for male dogs by promoting that it is cool – and responsible – to get your dog snipped.
Animal management was a key concern identified in the council’s 2023 Community Scorecard Survey results, and the current initiative aims to prevent unwanted litters by promoting responsible pet ownership, and reducing the reliance on traditional costly strategies such as collecting, holding, rehoming and, in extreme cases, euthanising pets.
Mayor Peter Scott urged residents to be responsible dog owners and make the most of the initiative, given there is no permanent veterinary presence in Cooktown.
“With no vet in Cooktown, we acknowledge that the cost of travel combined with vet fees often poses significant financial barriers for pet owners on low incomes”, he said.
“We’ve identified that by helping these pet owners, we are helping make our community safer for all our residents, including our four-legged friends.”
Mayor Scott also emphasised the importance of desexing as not only a cost-saving measure, but also in managing the animals at home and in the community.
“This proactive approach helps prevent dogs from roaming, fighting, and producing unwanted litters, ultimately reducing nuisance issues and increasing compliance with local and state laws,” he said.
Visiting Mareeba vet Dr Justin Little of Central Veterinary Surgery will be performing the procedures as part of the It’s Hip to Snip initiative.
Some conditions do apply to the initiative, with places strictly limited and bookings essential.
Only male dogs are eligible for free desexing, and they must be microchipped and registered with the council, with owners needing to be Cook Shire residents with a healthcare or pensioner concession card.
To make a booking for your furry friend, or for more information, call 07 4082 0500.
