Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029

In Victoria, all councils must develop a new Domestic Animal Management Plan every four years to set out services, programs, and initiatives that promote responsible ownership of dogs and cats in the community.

From 1 to 31 August 2025, we're inviting your feedback on the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan for 2026–2029.

The draft plan has been shaped by the feedback we received earlier this year when we asked our community, industry groups, special interest groups and key stakeholders to share what they felt should be prioritised in the plan.

What you told us

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback during previous consultations—your input has helped guide the direction of the draft plan and revealed the following key themes:

A call for more education and promotion in general.
Support for improved provisions for dogs and their owners in public places.
A call for more education and supports for cat owners re: cat containment.
Improvements required to dog off leash areas.
66% support for Council introducing a 24-hour cat curfew.
79% support for Council introducing a mandatory cat desexing requirement.
Call for increased enforcement.
Requests for future low-cost desexing opportunities.
A call for pet registration incentives.

What's included in the draft plan

In addition to seeking your feedback on the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029, we're also proposing some changes to Council's dog off-leash and prohibited areas for dogs and cats (formally known as Council's Dog and Cat Order 2019 - Schedules 1 and 2) across the shire.

To explore the proposed changes in detail and to provide feedback, visit our Dog off leash and prohibited areas for dogs/cats' consultation page.

All feedback received via the above link will be considered as a first year action in Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan, with the intention of then presenting final amendments (of Council’s Dog and Cat Order 2019 – Schedules 1 and 2) to Council for adoption by mid 2026.

This consultation is also open for feedback from now until 31 August 2025.

Aside from the recently announced State funding for Hurry Reserve in Kyneton, there are currently no identified spaces for dedicated fenced dog off-leash areas (eg. dog parks) within the shire.

Throughout previous community consultation processes, you told us you want improved provisions for dogs and their owners in public places, including dedicated spaces for dogs.

The draft Domestic Animal Mangement Plan 2026-2029 includes a proposed action: “Strategic planning for dogs and people in open space”, targeted for commencement in 2027 - contingent on budget allocation.

If the draft plan—and this specific action—is adopted and funded, Council will develop a policy/plan to guide the provision of open space for both dogs and people across the shire.