Animal Management
Under the Act, each council must prepare a plan relating to the management of dogs and cats within its area (26A).
These plans must include provisions for parks where dogs may be exercised off-leash and for parks where dogs must be under effective control by means of physical restraint and may include provisions for parks where dogs are prohibited.
Commencing in 2019, Council’s Dog and Cat Management Plan has been prepared to guide the City of Prospect’s approach to dog and cat management for the next five years. It provides Council with an opportunity to address dog and cat management at a strategic level and recent changes to the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (the Act).
The Plan proposes a combination of education, encouragement and enforcement actions to assist with influencing people’s attitudes and behaviours towards responsible pet ownership.
The Plan includes a number of priority areas for the next five years including:
- Dog registration
- Mandatory microchipping
- Mandatory desexing
- Wandering dogs
- Excessive barking
- Dogs in public places
- Dog faeces
- Community education
- Cat management
- Breeding and selling of pets
Each priority area includes an objective, actions and performance measures.
The Plan’s mission is to build on the foundation established through strategies currently used by Council to create an environment which encourages responsible pet ownership, and where people and pets integrate safely and harmoniously within our community.