August 28th, 2026Just sayin’…

Governments. Sometimes they just don't govern well.

Governments. Sometimes they just don’t govern well.
Now I am all for following the rules. Well, most of the time. I think if the lockdowns were ever brought back I would ignore them.
And I would never wear a mask while walking alone around the Glenlyon Reserve again. But who knew at the time.
Anyway, we have run the piece next to this column, Pick me, pick me, for about 13 years. As long as we have been running. And after the first one when I forgot to add the microchip number I have always done my best to follow the rules. And also hoped that every cat and dog and hamster gets a forever home.
We are up to edition 365 so hopefully that is 365 pets, or maybe more, that we and you and petstock Daylesford, who sponsor the piece, have helped to re-home. Nice effort everyone.
But apparently I have missed a bit. You also need to run the source number of the place which has the pets for adoption. I didn’t know. But it is an easy fix. And I have added it already. See left.
But this is where the government bit comes in. I received an email last week from Agriculture Victoria’s Pet Exchange Register. It was quite stern – and I didn’t even warrant a name. Not even my much hated Dear Sir. And it had a word in capital letters, very shouty. It went like this:

From: Pet Exchange Register (DEECA) <PER@agriculture.vic.gov.au>
Sent: Wednesday, 19 August 2026 12:15 PM
Subject: OFFICIAL: “Pick Me Pick Me” Adoption Advertisement

The Pet Exchange Register compliance team are responsible for investigating cases of alleged non-compliant advertisements for the sale and/or re-homing of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies in Victoria.
We are contacting you in relation to the “Pick Me Pick Me” pet adoption advertisements that are published in your Newspaper and online site and to provide advice about your requirements for publishing these advertisements.
The advertisement of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies in Victoria is regulated by the Domestic Animals Act 1994. Under this Act, advertisements for the sale, giving away or re-homing of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies in Victoria must include both:

• The microchip number of each animal advertised

AND (shouty bit)

• The source number of the owner or rescue organisation generated by the Pet Exchange Register

Currently your advertisements do not provide the source number of the rescue organisation that these animals can be adopted through. Please ensure that for any advertisement that you publish for the sale, adoption or giving away of a dog, cat, puppy or kitten in Victoria includes the source number and the microchip number of each animal advertised.

Oh dear, I have been told. And I get that they have to be a bit impersonal although the “Hi” was a nice touch. Missing name not so much.
I just reckon they could have started with a “well done” for all you and your readers have done for the pets.
But maybe I am just getting too sensitive as I grow older. Just sayin’…