New Domestic Animal Management Plan for Colac Otway Shire

Published on 15 December 2021

A new Colac Otway Shire Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2021-2025 was accepted at last night’s Council meeting, following a 6-week public consultation period.

However, an alteration to the recommendation was put forward by Cr Graham Costin to seek an integrated approach with the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, following the lead of the Surf Coast Shire Council’s domestic animal management approach.

“This will help to bring a consistent approach to the management of domestic animals all along the entire Great Ocean Road across coastal towns, foreshores, harbours, campgrounds and beaches by the end of 2022,” said Cr Costin.

A DAMP outlines the management of dogs and cats, as well as the key issues, objectives and priorities of how these will be managed with the aim of promoting responsible pet ownership and the welfare of cats and dogs in the community, while protecting the community and environment from nuisance cats and dogs.

“Thank you to all submitters for feedback on the draft Plan, Council acknowledges the comments provided,” said Colac Otway Shire Council Mayor, Cr Kate Hanson. “The new DAMP is consistent with Colac Otway Shire’s long-standing commitment to the values of animal welfare, as well as ensuring community safety.”

The updated DAMP will focus on nine key priorities: training of compliance officers; registration and identification of animals; nuisance animals; dog attacks; dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs; overpopulation and euthanasia rates; domestic animal businesses; other matters as necessary; and an annual review of the plan with annual reporting.

No increase to the existing resourcing for Council’s Community Safety Unit will be required to achieve these actions, and there will be no increase to fees, charges or penalties associated with the DAMP for the community.

“Dogs and cats have been shown to have a clear benefit for people’s general health and well-being and are valuable in building social connectedness,” said Mayor Hanson. “The effective management of domestic animals, as set out in our DAMP Action Plan will only help to further the social benefits of domestic animals in our community.”

The DAMP highlighted a 5% increase in the number of dog and cat registrations from 2017-2020, and, under an action of the new plan, will propose free cat registrations for the first registration period (around 90 cats per year) for all microchipped and desexed cats.

A barking dog package has also been developed and includes a 14-day diary to be compiled for complaints. In 2019-20, the DAMP outlined six reported dog attacks, resulting in five infringements being issued and one prosecution. It also showed there are 12 menacing dogs registered in the shire and one dangerous, but no restricted breed dogs currently registered.

Council is required to prepare a revised domestic animal management plan (DAMP) every four years, as outlined in the Domestic Animals Act 1994. The Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.