Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021 - 2025

This consultation has closed.

Wellington Shire Council is reviewing its Domestic Animal Management Plan. Please have your say by completing an online submission form below:

• Domestic Animal Management Plan - Public Submission Form

Pet ownership has positive benefits for the community. Responsible pet ownership makes a valuable contribution towards our community’s wellbeing and adds to social connectivity. This is more pronounced with children and the elderly where pets play a more prominent part in their lives. They provide opportunities for active pursuits, companionship to those who may feel lonely or isolated and independence for those with a disability or illness.

The revised plan has been developed to address needs relating to pets, their owners and the community.

The Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) applies to all domestic pets and it is incumbent on all Councils to have a DAMP.

When drafting the DAMP for 2021 - 2025, key considerations were given by Council to:

• Maintaining qualified and experienced staff;
• Encouraging increased pet registration compliance, with an emphasis on cats;
• Reducing the number of dog attack incidents by encouraging responsible pet ownership, increasing safety awareness around dogs and enforcing legislation;
• Maintaining continued compliance relating to the keeping of declared menacing, dangerous and restricted breed dogs;
• Reducing the feral cat population and euthanasia rates of unwanted pets;
• Ensuring Domestic Animal Businesses are identified and regulated;
• Responding to and investigating animal nuisance complaints in a timely and effective manner; and
• Responding to any emergency involving people and their pets.

In addition to the key considerations above, council is also considering:

• Whether to introduce a 24-hour cat curfew throughout the shire, requiring cats to be confined to their owners’ properties;
• A review of its current leash laws, which may include extending the current leash laws to cover all urban areas within the shire; and
• If more stringent leash laws are introduced, the establishment of dedicated off leash (dog park) areas throughout the shire

A copy of the current Domestic Animal Management Plan 2017 - 2021 and DRAFT Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021 - 2025 can be viewed in the Project Documents Section on this page, or hard copies are available to view at Council Customer Service Centres in Sale and Yarram.

Public submissions will open Monday 9th August 2021 and close on Friday 3rd September 2021.

What happens next?

Once you have registered and provided your feedback using the tools provided, we will collate, review and analyse the feedback received. Council will take all submissions into consideration for the review of the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021 - 2025.