Plan for cats and dogs adopted for Hepburn Shire

Published on 19 October 2022

A four-year plan for Hepburn Shire’s domestic animals was adopted at the Council meeting last night.

The Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021-2025 (DAMP) provides a strategic framework for Council to guide policy direction, service programs, initiatives and action plans related to animal management.

Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said that to initiate the development of the draft plan, Council invited community feedback to help identify local issues.

“It was a very successful engagement campaign with a significant amount of feedback received from the community, which was then used to inform the direction of the new plan.  Almost 500 residents, both pet owners and non-pet owners, contributed to the plan by completing an online survey or by making a written submission,” said Cr Drylie.

Council received over 80 pieces of feedback on the draft DAMP during the public exhibition period with some of the most common themes including:

• Varied views when it comes to Cat Curfews and Cat Containment Programs and how these should be implemented
• Greater action on feral cats
• Stronger action regarding dogs on leads in public spaces
• Mixed responses in relation to dog parks and prohibiting dogs on sporting grounds
• Reminding dog owners of their responsibilities
• An increase in enforcement relating to both cat and dog issues.

The DAMP addresses the following key issues:

• Training of Authorised Officers
• Registration & identification of domestic animals
• Nuisance animals
• Dog attacks
• Dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs
• Over population & high euthanasia
• Domestic animal businesses
• Responsible pet ownership and compliance with legislation.

Some of the new actions contained in the plan include:

• Developing a Cat Curfew Program and draft Cat Curfew Policy (2022/2023)
• Implementing actions of the cat curfew policy once it has been adopted (July 2023)
• Working towards development of a 24-hour hour cat containment policy (2025)
• Continuing to work with community and external organisations on actions relating to reduction of feral cat population throughout the Shire (ongoing)
• Development of an Off-Lead Dog Park Master Plan (2023).

Click here to view the DAMP(PDF, 1MB)