NEWS DESK

‘Houdini hounds’ may avoid pounds

Boundaries on the move for election Continued from Page 1 “I’m pleased that the Australian Electorate Commission has just decided to bring the whole of Carrum Downs, Skye and Sandhurst into my electorate,” Mr Crewther said. “I welcome residents in these suburbs to Dunkley.” He said he is “sad” at losing both Mornington and Baxter “from my electorate”. The Dunkley MP said residents in Carrum Downs, Skye and Sandhurst “want change”. “Many locals have told me how they’ve felt neglected after 22 years of Labor in charge of their area, with 11 years of having Mark Dreyfus as their local Member for Isaacs, who not only lives out of his electorate in Malvern, but also has not knocked on most of the doors I’ve already knocked on, and hasn’t delivered on vital local infrastructure upgrades like resolving road congestion issues.” Mr Hunt, federal Health Minister, has also lost a chunk of the Flinders electorate in the redistribution, despite gaining Mornington and all of Baxter, but still has a safe Liberal majority in the new seat. Phillip Island and Bass Coast suburbs previously in the Flinders electorate will become part of the seat of Monash. The next federal election will be held by 18 May next year at the latest if not called by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before that date.

Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au

All change: A redistribution of electorate boundaries will come into force at the next federal election when voters head to polls.

DOGS who perform not so great escapes as far as owners are concerned may avoid going to the pound in future if suggested changes to the way Kingston Council deals with lost pets go ahead. Councillors at last month’s public council meeting voted for council officers to investigate minimising the chances of lost pooches facing a stay at a pound if a dog is registered and microchipped with council. Cr Georgina Oxley suggested officers consider a “first strike” policy to have dogs returned straight back to owners. “I think nobody wants their dogs to go wandering the streets day or night by themselves,” she said. “Most of the time for people, pets are part of the family and when they do go missing it is devastating both for the pet and the human a lot of the time. “If they do end up at the pound it’s a long, long process to get your dog back. I wouldn’t want any family to be going through that. “So I think that it’s important if they do go missing, we’re able to return them as soon as possible.” Cr Rosemary West agreed with Cr Oxley’s declaration that dogs “can be

Did you know that you could swap your old home for a beautiful brand new Designer Range Home that we build for you in your backyard at no cost to you!

THAT’S RIGHT, NEW FOR OLD AT NO COST TO YOU!

escape artists”. Cr West said “Houdini hounds” often are experts in escapology and find inventive means to break out of fenced gardens and yards. “My dog climbed up a tree to climb over a guinea pig’s hutch and jump down off the letterbox … people very kindly collected her and ring me,” she said. On one occasion Cr West said her dog spent the day at “a very kind” vet’s office before being collected. Council officers will look at the possibility of vets and doggy daycare businesses temporarily housing lost registered pooches. Cr West said a small fee for such a service would be reasonable to most dog owners to avoid pets going to the pound. Council has an arrangement for wandering animals to be sent to the Lost Dogs Home in Cranbourne which can be inconvenient for some Kingston residents to visit during opening hours to retrieve pets. Officers will report back to councillors at a future council meeting in the coming months. Councillors also tasked officers with reporting back on providing “more robust” dog tags since several dog owners have complained that the existing tags are “flimsy” and easily fall off pooches’ collars.

...or are you

CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BACKYARD?

WE DO THE WORK, YOU GET THE CA$H! • Top up your retirement fund Is your house looking tired?

Your new home could look like this...

or go double storey like this... the choice is yours

• Keep your same address, local shops, doctor and your neighbours • Free of legal fees, agent commission, stamp duty, planning fees and surveying fees • You can have your new home in just months from approval • We do all the work for you - council town planning permit, building permit - EVERYTHING • We make moving in to your new home as easy as possible • You may also qualify for a ca$h bonus* Call Stephen Harper for a free, no obligation assessment on 0419 300 653 or visit www.designerrangehomes.com.au

*Conditions apply

HOMES

DESIGNER RANGE

• Renovate your home (we know a good builder!) • Cruise the world - no backyard garden to maintain • A new car, caravan, grandkid’s school fees… The possibilities are endless.

Call Stephen Harper on 0419 300 653 for a free assessment

Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 27 June 2018

PAGE 3