Domestic Animal Management Plans

Legislation

Under the provisions of The Domestic Animals Act 1994(previously the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994) (the Act) all Councils in Victoria have developed a domestic animal management plan which will be renewed every 4 years.

This plan outlines the services, programs and policies the Council has established to address the administration of the Act and the management of dog and cat issues in their community.

Finding your Council’s domestic animal management plan

The Local Government Act 1989 requires a Councils in Victoria to maintain a website that lists its public notices and documents, including their domestic animal management plan.
A list of Council websites and contact details can be sourced from the Municipal Association of Victoria website

Council domestic animal management plan responsibilities

• Develop a domestic animal management plan that promotes responsible pet ownership and the welfare of dogs and cats in the community, and protects the community and the environment from nuisance dogs and cats.
• Identify a method of evaluating whether the animal management services provided by the Council are adequate and outline the training programs for their Authorised Officers to ensure these Officers are capable in administering and enforcing the provisions of the Act.
• Provide information on the day to day operation of the Council, the current programs Council has in place and the policies the Council has adopted in relation to the following standards of animal management:
  
  a) to promote and encourage the responsible ownership of dogs and cats; and

  b) to ensure that people comply with this Act, the regulations and any related legislation; and

  c) to minimise the risk of attacks by dogs on people and animals; and

  d) to address any over-population and high euthanasia rates for dogs and cats; and

  e) to encourage the registration and identification of dogs and cats; and

  f) to minimise the potential for dogs and cats to create a nuisance; and

  g) to effectively identify all dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed dogs in that district and to ensure that those dogs are kept in compliance with the Act and the Regulations
  

• Identify the current local laws and Orders made under the Act and provide a review of these to determine if they are effective. Similarly the Council must identify any other specific animal management issues within their municipal district.
• Review the plan annually and publish an evaluation of the implementation of their plan in the Council’s annual report. The plan, including new initiatives, is required to be fully reviewed every 4 years.