City calls on pet owners and non-pet owners to contribute to development of new Domestic Animal Management Plan

The City of Greater Bendigo is developing a new Domestic Animal Management Plan and is calling on residents both with pets and without pets to have input into the plan to ensure the views of the wider community are reflected. 

Residents can have input into the development of the plan by completing a survey at https://letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/domestic-animal-management-plan by July 31, 2021.

City of Greater Bendigo Safe and Healthy Environments Acting Manager Jock Schofield said the City has a legislative requirement under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 to prepare a Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) and this will be the fourth plan that the City has prepared. 

“The new plan will build on the achievements and work from the first three plans and establish a framework to guide future service programs and actions through to 2025,” Mr Schofield said.

“Companion animals have been part of our lives since recorded history with dogs and cats playing an important role in the daily lives of many Greater Bendigo residents.

“Therefore, it’s vital for the City to undertake the necessary planning to ensure that pets, pet owners and non-pet owners can coexist in a harmonious way.

“That is why we want to hear from both pet owners and non-pet owners so we can undertake initiatives to complement pet ownership and also actions that help minimise the nuisance and potential danger created by some dogs and cats.

“Victoria has a high level of companion animal ownership with two thirds of households owning a pet.

“Some of the initiatives that have come from previous plans include the creation of new dog parks and the introduction of a cat curfew between dusk and dawn.

“The first step in developing the new plan is to gather feedback through the survey.  This information will be used in the development of a draft plan which will also be available for further community comment.

The survey includes questions in relation to demographics, responsible pet ownership and education, registration and identification of cats and dogs, desexing of cats and dogs and dog faeces management, keeping of animals local law, off/on lead areas (access to public spaces), cat control, dog attacks and nuisance animals and enforcement.

More information is available from https://letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/domestic-animal-management-plan or by phoning Samuel Johnston at the City on 1300 002 642.