DRAFT - Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021 2025 - Moyne Shire Council - Moyne ...
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Moyne Shire Council DRAFT - Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021 - 2025
Table of Contents
Introduction & Context ........................................................................................... 3
Authorised Officer Training .................................................................................... 8
Responsible Pet Ownership ................................................................................ 11
Over-Population & Euthanasia ............................................................................ 12
Registration & Identification ................................................................................. 14
Nuisance ............................................................................................................. 16
Dog Attacks ......................................................................................................... 18
Declared Dogs .................................................................................................... 20
Domestic Animal Businesses .............................................................................. 21
Other Matters ...................................................................................................... 22
Annual Review & Reporting................................................................................. 23
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 2Introduction & Context
Council plays an important leadership role in supporting and promoting responsible pet
ownership, community safety and healthy living through a well-informed community.
In accordance with the Domestic Animals Act 1994, Council adopted Domestic Animal
Management Plans in 2008, 2013 and 2017 with each plan providing a formal approach to
service delivery and animal management initiatives over 4 years.
This latest plan will build on the foundation of the initial plans and continue to guide service
delivery and actions through to the year 2025. This plan outlines Council’s strategic direction
and objectives towards animal management and provides a structured framework for Council’s
animal management service to address responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.
Council has spent the previous four years working towards operational efficiency and
streamlining processes to improve practices. Over the next four years Council will begin to shift
towards more aspirational strategies that can directly impact responsible pet ownership and
improve the health and wellbeing of domestic animals.
Purpose of the Plan
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 (the Act), requires Council to prepare a Domestic Animal
Management Plan every four years.
The plan must set out a method for evaluating whether the animal management services
provided by council are adequate to give effect to the requirements of the Act and the Domestic
Animal Regulations 2015.
The purpose of the Plan is to outline services, strategies and programs for the training of
authorised officers to:
protect the community and the environment from feral and nuisance cats and dogs;
promote responsible pet ownership;
ensure people comply with the Act, the regulations and any related legislation;
minimise risk of attacks by dogs on people and animals;
address any over-population and high euthanasia rates for dogs and cats;
encourage registration and identification of dogs and cats;
minimise potential for dogs and cats to create a nuisance;
effectively identify all dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed dogs within
the municipality and ensure those dogs are kept in compliance with the Act and the
regulations;
provide for review of existing orders made under this Act and local laws that relate to the
Council's municipal district with a view to determining whether further orders or local laws
dealing with the management of dogs and cats in the municipal district are desirable;
provide for review of any other matters related to the management of dogs and cats in
the Council's municipal district that it considers necessary;
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 3 provide for periodic evaluation of any program, service, strategy or review outlined under
the plan.
Council is also required to review and where appropriate amend the plan and publish an
evaluation of the implementation of the plan in the Council annual report.
Process Applied in Developing the Plan
This Domestic Animal Plan has been developed on the outcomes and learnings from the
previous Plan. This has included a review of existing data in areas of registrations,
impoundments, attacks and complaints.
Community feedback and consultation with stakeholders including veterinarians and other
service providers has also guided its development.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 4Demographic Profile of Council
Moyne Shire is located in South West Victoria and stretches along the Shipwreck Coast in the
south to pastoral areas in the north. Spanning an area of 5,478 km2, communities include
Caramut, Ellerslie, Framlingham, Garvoc, Hawkesdale, Hexham, Kirkstall, Koroit, Macarthur,
Mortlake, Nullawarre, Orford, Panmure, Peterborough, Port Fairy, Purnim, Winslow,
Woolsthorpe, Woorndoo and Yambuk.
The Shire is characterised by agriculture, fresh seafood, manufacturing and a healthy tourism
industry. The dairy industry is the dominant form of agriculture, however sheep production and
cereal crops are growing in size.
The Shire is bordered by Glenelg Shire in the west, Southern Grampians Shire and Ararat Rural
City in the north, Corangamite Shire to the east, and envelops the Warrnambool City Council
municipal area.
Moyne has a total population of 16,953 residents (Census 2019). Most of the growth within the
Shire is to the south in the coastal areas, with the entire population growing at approximately
0.5% per annum. It is projected by the State Government that by 2021 the population will
increase by 0.54% annually.
Figure 1: Map depicting the Municipality of Moyne Shire
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 5Context and Current Situation
Program/Service: Service Level:
Identification & Registration 3,296 dogs and cats per year
Doorknock campaigns All year
Domestic animal complaints Response times – within 12 hours
Dangerous Dogs complaints Response times – within 1 hour
Routine street patrols Daily patrols of townships
Pound SGSC Hamilton Pound
by appointment only
SGSC Local Laws – 03 5573 0444
council@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au
De-sexing programs AVA & MAV Reduced fee de-sexing
scheme
25% discount off advertised price and
council contribution deducted
After hours emergency service 4:30pm – 8:00am Monday to Friday
24hrs on Weekends
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 6Domestic Animal Statistics
Attribute: Value:
Moyne Shire Area 5,478km2
Population (census 2019) 16,953 persons
# of EFT Authorised Officers 3 Full Time
(Animal Management Officers) 2 Casual
DOGS
Number Registered 2,692 (2021)
% of registered dogs desexed 65.45% (2021)
# registered restricted breed dogs 0
# declared menacing dogs 1
# declared dangerous dogs 0
Number of complaints (previous 12 months) 297
Number collected by Authorised Officers 202
# returned directly to owner 130 (64%)
# impounded 72 (36%)
Impounded Animal outcome 72
# reclaimed by owner 24 (33%)
# adopted and rehomed 23 (33%)
# euthanized 25 (33%)
CATS
Number Registered 773 (2021)
% of registered Cats de-sexed 89.78% (2021)
Number of complaints (previous 12 months) 120
Number collected by Authorised Officers 73
# returned directly to owner 20 (27%)
# impounded 53 (73%)
Impounded Animal outcome 53
# reclaimed by owner 12 (23%)
# adopted and rehomed 5 (9%)
# euthanized (impounded) 36 (68%)
DOMESTIC ANIMAL BUSINESSES
Number registered Domestic Animal Businesses 8
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 7Authorised Officer Training
Section 68A(2)(b) of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 states that Councils must outline programs
for training authorised officers to ensure they can properly administer and enforce the
requirements of this Act in the Council’s municipal district.
Context and Current Situation
Moyne Shire Community Safety Team is responsible for animal management operations under
the Domestic Animals Act 1994, other applicable State laws and Council’s Local Laws.
The Community Safety Team comprises three full time (EFT) and two casual employed Local
Laws Officers, one 0.6 EFT Community Safety Support Officer and a Coordinator of Community
Safety.
All council staff are inducted with information about the organisation’s activities and culture.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 8Training for Authorised Officers
All Local Laws Officers are competent and trained to perform the required duties under the
legislation. This includes a mix of practical ‘hands on’ in-house training, structured courses and
industry specific workshops.
Performance management reviews and development planning is ongoing and includes
discussions between officers and management about performance and development, this
process also includes developing specific training plans to achieve the objectives of this Plan
and relevant legislation.
Current training programs include:
Course Completed Planned
Certificate IV in Government (Statutory Compliance) 2 Officers All FT Officers
Certificate IV in Animal Control and Regulation 2 Officers All FT Officers
OHS Corporate Induction All Officers As required
HR Corporate Induction All Officers As required
Safe Dog Handling and Bite Prevention All Officers 3 yearly refresher
Restricted Dog Breed Identification 2 Officers As offered
Animal Welfare Victoria – training & information days As available As offered
Conflict – Negotiation & Intervention All Officers As offered
Dealing with aggressive customers All Officers As offered
Plan
Objective 1: Ensure all officers are appropriately trained
Activity When Evaluation
Identify minimum training requirements Current & ongoing Requirement identified and
by consultation with management and incorporated into an
staff approved training policy
Identify additional training opportunities Ongoing Requirement identified and
by consultation with management and incorporated into an
staff approved training policy
Develop and maintain training register Ongoing Annually – approved
for animal management officers proposed training undertaken
detailing completed and proposed and officers competent
training
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 9Objective 2: Ensure animal management officers have the skills necessary to support the
community and effectively perform their regulatory role
Activity When Evaluation
Attendance of Animal Management As offered Attendance by at least one
Officer regional workshops and Officer to each Regional
meetings workshop / meeting
Animal Handling Training Current & ongoing All staff to attend training /
refresher once each 3 years
All Animal Management Officers to Ongoing All staff meet performance
complete minimum training standards in annual
requirements performance reviews with
reduction in skills gap from
previous year
Internal training sessions on Domestic As required Ongoing evaluation of
Animal Act 1994 amendments success of training through
feedback from management
and staff
Certificate IV in Statutory Compliance As offered All full time staff to have
Certificate IV in Government completed or begun within 2nd
year of permanent
employment
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 10Responsible Pet Ownership
Council must outline programs to promote and encourage responsible pet ownership and
compliance with Domestic Animals Act requirements.
Context and Current Situation
Council’s current compliance activities include:
Attending to animal related complaints
o Follow up of non-renewal registration and unregistered animals
o Property Visits
o Phone calls
Patrols of municipality for stray and wandering dogs
Unregistered animal audits within the municipality
Issuing registration renewal notices and follow up for compliance
Ensuring all seized and impounded animals are identified and registered prior to release
Regular updates and audit of animal registration database
o Change of address
o Notification of deceased animals
o Change of owner
Council will continue to encourage people within the community to microchip and register their
pets.
Plan
Objective 3: Improve community understanding of Responsible Pet ownership
Activity When Evaluation
Develop a targeted approach to Annually Communication plan
educating and informing the community developed and
about responsible pet ownership implementation commenced
Distribution of pamphlets on pet
ownership
Promote the benefits of registration
through media, marketing and
communications
Increased engagement with registered Ongoing Considered in development
pet owners through digital of communication plan
communications
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 11Over-Population & Euthanasia
Council must outline any compliance and education programs to address over-population and
high euthanasia rates in dogs and cats.
Context and Current Situation
Rates of returning / rehousing dogs
Animal Management Officers impound 75-100 dogs per annum and on average 33% of those
animals were reunited with their owners.
Rates of returning / rehousing cats
Animal Management Officers impounds 50-60 cats per annum and on average 23% of those
animals were reunited with their owners.
Of the cats and kittens impounded each year, approximately 75% are either feral, semi-feral or
wild with kittens (four to six per litter). Registered and identifiable cats are rarely impounded,
with the majority of impounded cats being either feral or semi-feral where people are found to
be feeding stray cats, without accepting responsibility for care and ownership.
Current education and promotion activities include:
Dog, Cat and Kitten adoption to assist in the reduction of euthanasia rates
Description and photo of all unidentified animals impounded on Council’s webpage and
social media platforms
Participation in AVA & MAV de-sexing scheme
Current compliance activities include:
Provision of cat traps delivered and collected by authorized officers
Investigation into reports of excess animals on property
Rehomed animals are identified and registered
There is a continuing increase in the number of pets reunited with their owners and
consequently a reduction in the number of euthanized animals.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 12Plan
Objective 4: Maximise reclaim and re-homing rates for cats and dogs.
Activity When Evaluation
Contact all parties listed on microchip Ongoing Increase in reclaim rates
databases and utilise internet and social
media to assist in locating animal
owners
Objective 5: Explore the utilization of foster and rescue groups
Activity When Evaluation
Explore agreements with foster and Annually New agreements gained
rescue groups regarding re-homing
Objective 6: Raise awareness about semi-owned cat population
Activity When Evaluation
Encourage residents to take full Ongoing Measure number and type of
responsibility for stray cats with education materials
increased education distributed
Encourage people to take full ownership Measure uptake on any
of cats by promoting discount de-sexing, promotions to encourage
microchipping & vaccination people to take ownership of
cats
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 13Registration & Identification
Council must outline programs, services and strategies to encourage the registration and
identification of dogs and cats.
Context and Current Situation
Section 68A(2)(c)(v) of the Domestic Animals Act outlines programs, services and strategies to
encourage registration and identification of dogs and cats
The most effective way to improve animal management and compliance with the Domestic
Animals Act is to maximize the number of domestic animals that are registered and identifiable.
Council’s current identification and registration activities include:
Follow up annual registration renewals by;
o Sending reminder notices after 10 April;
o Conducting a telephone audit; and
o Conducting door knock activities
All animals released from the pound must be chipped and registered
Animals currently registered and with no compliance issues will be returned to their
registered owners if found straying or at large. These pets will not be impounded if
registered owner can be contacted and promptly located.
Council’s website and social media pages utilized to reunite pets with owners
Issue lifetime registration number and tags
Update and maintenance of Council’s registered animals database
Pets visiting Council managed Caravan Parks are identified throughout their stay with the
issuing of temporary registration tags.
The registration of animals provides Council with an understanding of the level of pet ownership
in the community and in turn helps the Council plan for services, information and programs
associated with pets in identified areas of the community. Pet registration is the cornerstone of
domestic animal management at Moyne Shire.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 14Plan
Objective 7: Encourage registration numbers to increase each year
Activity When Evaluation
Review the existing registration process 2022 Review annual increase in
with the intention of providing customers registration numbers
greater choice for when and how they
register their animals by investigating Customer satisfaction survey
on-line registration options
Conduct random animal audits Annually Review annual increase in
throughout the municipality registration numbers
Promote animal audit process through Number of unregistered and
social and local media platforms unidentifiable animals found
during animal audits
Objective 8: Improve community understanding of Responsible Pet ownership
Activity When Evaluation
Develop a targeted approach to Annually Communication plan
educating and informing the community developed and
about responsible pet ownership implementation commenced
Distribution of pamphlets on pet
ownership
Promote benefits of registration through
media, marketing and communications
Increased engagement with pet owners Ongoing Considered in development
through digital communications of communication plan
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 15Nuisance
Council must outline programs, services and strategies to minimise the potential for dogs and
cats to create a nuisance.
Context and Current Situation
Council is guided by the Domestic Animals Act, State legislation and Council Local Laws to
ensure all members of the community are complying with current legislation.
Nuisance complaints received by Council generally relate to barking dogs, dogs at large, dog
attacks, dog poo litter, dogs in prohibited areas and nuisance cats.
Council officers aim to inform, educate and communicate to the community their responsibilities
as pet owners. If these approaches are not successful, officers have use of letters, notices,
infringements and sometimes court to ensure compliance with the law.
Dogs
Council’s response to barking dog complaints is to inform the dog owner of the problem, provide
advice and an opportunity to rectify the problem.
Excessive barking is caused by, but not limited to –
Separation anxiety
Boredom
External stimulants (passers-by, wildlife, other barking dogs, cats)
Territorialism (visitors to premises)
Communication
In most instances the owner is not home to hear or stop the excessive barking, or may be tuned
out to the problem entirely. Council has procedures and policies for dealing with barking dog
complaints, such as barking dog diaries and educational references.
Dogs not being adequately confined to their premises or being at large, are also considered a
nuisance and a hazard to the public. In these instances, officers utilise the Local Law and the
Domestic Animal Act to hold animal owners accountable.
Cats
Nuisance cats tend to be either feral or semi-feral and consequently no one is specifically
accountable for their impact on the environment or the community. These impacts include
spread of disease and injuries to domestic cats and wildlife.
Owners are encouraged to be responsible pet owners rather than ‘semi-pet owners’ who feed
cats then take no further responsibility for the health, wellbeing, identification and registration of
these animals.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 16Officers utilise the Local Law and the Domestic Animals Act to address these matters. The
current levels of education and enforcement aims to strike a balance to effectively gain
compliance and reduce the number of nuisance complaints.
Plan
Objective 9: Reduce dog nuisance complaints
Activity When Evaluation
Include information regarding 2022 Information packs to be sent
confinement, barking, dogs at large etc. out each year to new animal
in registration information packs owners
Number of nuisance
complaints received
Proactive patrols of public areas during Current and Reduced non-compliance
peak times ongoing
Promote ‘Pick up your Poo’ campaign, Ongoing Reduction in number of
focusing on larger townships and beach complaints
areas.
Ensure active patrols and highly visible Ongoing Reduced number of nuisance
presence within the community complaints received
Objective 10: Reduce cat nuisance complaints
Activity When Evaluation
Ensure active patrols and highly visible Ongoing Number of nuisance
presence within the community complaints received
Continue to provide cat cages and traps Ongoing Reduction in number of
free of charge to residents to control nuisance cat complaints
feral cat numbers
Provide trapped cat collection service Ongoing Reduction in number of
nuisance cat complaints
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 17Dog Attacks
Council must outline programs, services and strategies to minimise the risk of attacks by dogs
on people and animals.
Context and Current Situation
Council has a strict enforcement program in relation to wandering dogs within the municipality,
which is enforced by:
An after-hours emergency response service
Attendance during business hours to all stray/wandering dogs within set response
times.
All alleged dog attacks are investigated as a matter of priority
Reports of dogs showing aggressive tendencies are dealt with immediately
Declaring dogs as dangerous or menacing as required under the DAA
Legal action instigated as required when there is sufficient evidence
Current compliance activities include:
Investigation of all dog attacks and safety concerns
Providing after-hours emergency attendance for dog attacks and dogs acting
aggressively
Seizing all dogs involved in dog attacks resulting in serious injury
Regular patrols of municipality
Issuing infringements and summons where applicable
Declaring dogs as menacing or dangerous where required
The purpose of these measures is to ensure as far as practicable, the risk to the community is
controlled, reduced or removed completely. Council will continue with its strict enforcement
approach to all reported dog attacks and aggressive dog complaints within the municipality
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 18Plan
Objective 11: Encourage reporting of dog attacks in the community
Activity When Evaluation
Improve public awareness of effects and Ongoing Review number of complaints
consequences of dog attacks and how received by Council in
to report these matters to Council for relation to previous years
investigation
Increase awareness of possible 2022 Develop and distribute
penalties and actions that may result educational information in
from an attack on livestock in farming rural areas
communities
Increase patrols to limit wandering dogs Ongoing Review number of wandering
and prevent dog attacks dogs to previous data
Objective 12: Decrease time lapsed from attack happening to reported to Council
Activity When Evaluation
Publicise the importance of informing Ongoing Timely provision of reports of
Council when an attack takes place dog attack by community
Use website, social media and
educational material
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 19Declared Dogs
Council must outline programs, services and strategies to effectively identify all dangerous
dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed dogs in the municipality and ensure those dogs are
kept in accordance with the Domestic Animals Act and regulations.
Context and Current Situation
Moyne Shire Council currently has no restricted breed dogs, one declared menacing dog and
no declared dangerous dogs on the register.
Council officers ensure the owners of any declared dog adhere to the requirements by-
Maintaining the State Government Victorian Dangerous Dog Resister (VDDR)
Conducting inspections and random audits
Investigating complaints involving declared dogs
Cross checking registration database with VDDR for transferring animal registrations
Plan
Objective 13: Ensure high level of compliance is continuing
Activity When Evaluation
Continue inspection regime of all Current and Nil prosecutions required
declared dogs to maintain compliance ongoing
Cross-reference VDDR database for all Ongoing Nil dogs identified on VDDR
offending dog attack dogs to ascertain if database
a ‘declared’ dog was involved.
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 20Domestic Animal Businesses
Council must outline programs, services and strategies which Council intends to pursue in its
municipality to ensure that domestic animal businesses (DABs) comply with the Act, regulations
and any related legislation.
Context and Current Situation
Moyne Shire Council currently has eight Domestic Animal Businesses registered with Council.
There are no breeding establishments registered as Domestic Animal Businesses within Moyne
Shire Council.
Council currently maintains a register of all Domestic Animal Businesses operating within the
municipality and regularly inspects properties where significant numbers of dogs are kept to
determine if Domestic Animal Business provisions of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 apply and
are being complied with.
Council conducts audits of all registered Domestic Animal Businesses on a biennial rotating
basis in accordance with the Domestic Animals Act and associated codes of practice.
Our Plan
Objective 14: Identify and register all Domestic Animal Businesses (DAB’s) in the
municipality
Activity When Evaluation
Identify all DAB’s that should be Annually Compare number of
registered in the municipality by registered DAB’s annually
monitoring local and social media
platforms
Objective 15: Inspection and audit of all registered Domestic Animal Businesses
Activity When Evaluation
Conduct inspection of each registered Biennially 100% of all DAB’s inspected
DAB for compliance prior to renewal and actions
taken for any non-compliance
on biennial rotation
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 21Other Matters
Council must outline any other matters related to the management of dogs and cats in their
municipal district that it thinks necessary.
Context and Current Situation
With limited resources, the animal management unit continues to identify ways it can provide an
efficient and effective animal management service to the Moyne Shire community. In doing so, it
looks to investigate and explore innovative ways of addressing responsible pet ownership
issues and meeting its legislative obligations, through strategic use of partnerships, technology
and community engagement.
Our Plan
Objective 16: Review existing pound and animal management services
Activity When Evaluation
Identify and enhance relationships and Ongoing The extent to which
operational collaborations with local, relationships are embedded
regional, public and private stakeholders and efficiencies realised
Explore officer mobility and the use of Ongoing Efficiencies gained through
in-field technologies mobile technologies applied
to animal management
operations
MOYNE SHIRE COUNCIL | DOMESTIC ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN | PAGE 22Annual Review & Reporting
Under section 68A(3) of the Domestic Animals Act, Council must review its DAM Plan annually
and, if appropriate, amend the plan. Council must provide the Secretary for the Department of
Jobs, Precincts and Regions with a copy of the plan, including any amendments, and publish an
evaluation of the plan’s implementation in its annual report.
Evaluation of implementation of the Domestic Animal Plan
The achievement of the objectives and activities detailed in this plan will be reviewed and
reported annually.
Each activity will be reported annually on the following criteria:
Complete for each activity
Was activity completed? Yes / No
Describe any changes to be made if activity is
to continue
Was the activity not completed or not planned If so, why?
to be done
If the activity was unsuccessful, outline
insights into why it didn’t work.
Complete for each objective
Were objectives met by carrying out planned Yes / No
activities?
Description of level of success / progress in
meeting the objectives
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