Consultation Closed - Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan

Under the provisions of 68A of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (the Act), all Councils in Victoria are required to develop a Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAM Plan) which is reviewed annually, and renewed every 4 years.

The plan outlines the services, programs, and policies Baw Baw Shire Council has already established, and identifies areas requiring further development to address the administration of the Act and the management of dog and cat issues in our community.

The draft plan has been developed in accordance with Animal Welfare Victoria’s guidelines, and has taken in to account the review of the previous plan, as well as targeted stakeholder feedback.

Through the plan, the Council has sought to balance the competing needs of pet owners, the broader community and the animals that share people’s lives. Council recognises the benefits of pet ownership, and acknowledges the role we play in promoting responsible pet ownership and animal-related enforcement. The plan seeks to balance the needs of pet owners and the broader community, where people and pets can safely co-exist within the community.

Our aim is to develop a DAM Plan that promotes and encourages 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.

Key topics covered by the DAM Plan include:

• Identify and evaluate animal management services and training programs  for Authorised Officers
• Promote and encourage responsible pet ownership
• Minimise the risk of dog attacks in the community
• Address any overpopulation and high euthanasia rates for dogs and cats
• Encourage the registration and identification of dogs and cats
• Minimise the potential for dogs and cats to create a nuisance
• Effectively identify and manage all declared dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs kept within the municipality
• Manage all Domestic Animal Businesses within the municipality and ensure compliance with the relevant Codes of Practice
• Review current Local Laws and Orders to determine if they are effective
• Identify any other specific animal management issues within the Baw Baw Shire

Phase 1 –Community consultation (now closed)

Public consultation is an important part of developing our plan to ensure that the needs and expectations of our community are reflected in the final plan. 

We invited your feedback on the draft plan, any animal management issues that are occurring in the municipality and how you'd like them to be addressed. 

This consultation opportunity is open until Friday 8 October 2021.

Phase 2-Incorporating feedback into the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (late 2021)

The issues identified by the community will be reviewed and incorporated into the Domestic Animal Management Plan as key objectives for us to achieve over the next four years 2021-2025.

The final version of the Domestic Animal Management will be available on Council’s website and will be reviewed annually.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your thoughts and ideas are highly valued and will ultimately form part of Council’s decision making process.

Council Officers will consolidate comments and feedback and consider all submissions to assist in making further recommendations to Council. 

Have questions? We’re here to help! For questions about the Domestic Animal Management Plan please contact Council’s Community Compliance team on 5624 2411 or by email at Compliance.Admin@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au