Spring Calls for Lake Mac’s Four-Legged Fugitives to Be Registered

2 September 2024

LAKE MACQUARIE – In a move that has some animals looking over their shoulders, Lake Macquarie City Council is urging local livestock owners to register their furry and feathered friends before they make a run for it this spring.

Springtime in Lake Mac is a season of new life, with thousands of lambs, foals, piglets, and chicks joining the ranks of the city’s already diverse livestock population. But with this influx of critters comes the potential for more adventurous escapes—something the Council’s Environmental Regulation and Compliance Manager, Derek Poulton, knows all too well.

“Registering your animals with us is like giving them a membership card to the ‘I Got Out and Was Found’ club,” Mr. Poulton quipped. “It makes it so much easier to track them down if they decide to go on an unsanctioned walkabout, whether it’s because of a natural disaster or just a regular Tuesday.”

Just last week, two cows decided to take a scenic tour of New Lambton, causing a bit of chaos on the roads and turning a few front lawns into impromptu grazing spots. And who could forget last year’s post-Thanksgiving turkey trot in Dudley? Two turkeys, clearly unaware that their holiday had passed, were found gobbling loudly several kilometres from home. Their owner? Nowhere to be found.

Peta Shackleton of BBB Lodge in Cooranbong knows the drill all too well. Her boar, Otis, decided the grass was greener on the other side of the fence last year and burrowed his way to freedom. Fortunately, Otis was tagged and registered, so when the Council rangers finally found him (probably plotting his next escape), they knew exactly where to return him.

For those who might think registration is just for the usual suspects—cows, sheep, goats, and pigs—think again. The Council’s list includes the likes of alpacas, llamas, and even a potential herd of emus or ostriches. And yes, if you’re one of the lucky few with a bison or buffalo grazing in your backyard, they’re on the list too.

Mr. Poulton admits that without widespread registration, it’s hard to say exactly how many livestock residents Lake Macquarie has. “You’d be surprised by the numbers,” he said. “While most of our population is in urban areas, we’ve got a surprising amount of rural land home to all sorts of animals.”

So, whether you’ve got one sheep or ten emus, the Council is making it easy to keep your animals accounted for. The registration process is free, simple, and takes less than 10 minutes online. It’s a small price to pay to avoid the inevitable call from a neighbour wondering why there’s a llama in their front yard.

For more information and to register your livestock, trot over to lakemac.com.au. After all, you never know when your animals might decide they’re due for a little adventure.

You can also register your pets in other LGAs via these links: Newcastle, Port Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton.