Meow's the time to find your bark on our next plan for dogs and cats

Meow's the time to find your bark on our next plan for dogs and cats

Last updated on 01 April 2025

Council’s key document relating to cats and dogs is getting a refresh, with feedback invited to help inform initiatives that better promote the safety and welfare of our pets, people and environment.

Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2021-2025 is nearing the end of its term, with all councils required to review and renew their DAMP every four years under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

Director Planning and Environment Rebecca Stockfeld noted that over the past four years, Council’s DAMP 2021-2025 had delivered a range of initiatives to support pet owners and the public including the ‘For the Love of Paws’ responsible pet ownership campaign; improved community signage; and an increased number of pet registration and compliance checks.

“This document is crucial for Council and our Local Laws team in particular, in outlining the key issues, objectives and priorities for how cats and dogs will be managed in our community,” she said.

“Whether you own a pet or not, we value your perspectives on the effectiveness of the initiatives we’ve rolled out to date, and any ideas on what we could consider implementing moving forward.”

This initial consultation is the first of a two-stage external consultation process, with feedback obtained in this initial stage set to inform the development of the draft DAMP 2026-2029, which will then be exhibited for another round of consultation.

This consultation is also separate to an earlier consultation last year reviewing current designated dog off-leash and prohibited areas, with adjustments to be considered by Council based on the feedback received for the ‘Dog and Cat Order 2019’.

Under Council’s current Community Local Law 2023, and Dog and Cat Order 2019, regulations around dogs and cats include:

no more than 2 cats and no more than 2 dogs allowed on land less than 4000 square metres (1 acre) - on land greater than this, the number allowed increases to 4 of each dogs and cats (other conditions may apply) a person in charge of a dog in a public place must carry a sufficient and suitable device for the immediate collection and disposal of any excrement from that animal dogs must be on leash in public places except in designated areas, and all dogs must be under effective control cats must be contained to their owner’s property from sunset to sunrise.

Feedback is invited from now to 5pm on Monday 28 April 2025. Visit yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/DAMP to find out more and have your say online, with hard copies of surveys also available on request from Council’s customer service centres, or via post by calling (03) 5422 0333.