A Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) outlines the key issues, objectives and priorities for how cats and dogs will be managed in our community.

The plan relates to cats and dogs only, no other pets or animals.

Areas covered by the plan include responsible pet ownership topics such as desexing and microchipping, effective control of dogs in public areas, dog on and off-leash areas, nuisance dogs and cats, barking dogs, cat confinement, and the collection and disposal of animal excrement.

Under the Domestic Animal Act 1994, Victorian councils must review and renew their Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) every four years.

Council’s key initiatives delivered during the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021-2025 included:

• The introduction of Council’s responsible pet ownership campaign; ‘For the Love of Paws’.
• Improved community signage for dog on leash, off leash, and effective control requirements.
• Introduced campaign related dog poo signage in problematic areas, highlighting the need for dog owners to pick up after their dog.
• Conducted community consultation to review current designated dog off leash and prohibited areas – with adjustments to be considered by Council for the ‘Dog and Cat Order 2019’.
• Increased number of pet registration and compliance checks.
• Continued with various pet registration incentives.
• Held Council’s first low cost cat desexing day.
• Continued to improve pet care education materials.
• Increased enforcement activities to address dogs wandering, dog attacks and nuisance issues.

In July-August 2024, we invited community feedback on existing dog off-leash areas and prohibited areas for cats and dogs in the shire (also known as Council's Dog and Cat Order 2019).

Council officers have been considering this feedback and conducting on-ground assessments.

Observations from the on-ground assessments are being used alongside the feedback received to help inform proposed amendments to some of the off leash areas contained in Schedule 1 of the Order. We are planning for this to be ready to present to the community at the same time as the next stage of the consultation for the draft DAMP 2026-2029 later this year.