Council are seeking feedback from the Southern Grampians community to help shape our Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP), which sets out how we manage dogs and cats in the Shire over the next four years.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, every Victorian local government must prepare a plan outlining how it will manage dogs and cats within its municipal boundaries.
The Plan aims to promote responsible pet ownership and the welfare of cats and dogs in the community, while protecting the community and environment from nuisance cats and dogs. The Plan will help us balance the needs of pet owners with the needs of the whole community.
Local Laws Team Leader Jason Barker said community input was vital to developing a relevant and valuable Plan.
“Council recognises the value of pet ownership, the importance of pet welfare and the overall benefit for community health and wellbeing that comes with owning a pet. We also acknowledge the importance of protecting the community and the environment from nuisance dogs and cats.
“The DAMP aims to help us enhance our communication, education and awareness of the initiatives being conducted by Council in relation to domestic animals and our management of them so we really encourage the community, particularly those who own pets or work with animals, to get involved in this process and let us know their thoughts,” Barker said.
Some of the key initiatives Council proposes to roll out over the next four years include:
• Enhancing the Shire’s communication and education strategy seeking compliance of responsible pet ownership
• Conducting activities to increase rates of desexing and microchipping to improve reunion rates and reduce the number of unclaimed pets
• Continuing to enhance the Shire’s animal management services and facilities.
• Raising community awareness about feral and semi-owned cat populations and seeking improved compliance with confinement.
Residents are encouraged to complete the survey, available at www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay to share their ideas on the Domestic Animal Management Plan.