Pets & animals

Councils help to ensure responsible pet ownership, and also manage nuisance and pest animals on public land. Local laws officers respond to a range of animal and pet concerns including collection of stray animals and investigation of complaints about animals.

Services provided by councils include:

  • Pet ownership: pet registration, off-lead areas and disposal bags, permits for keeping animals, micro chipping days
  • Animal shelters: pet adoption and reuniting lost pets with owners
  • Livestock permits
  • Control of pests and nuisance animals
  • Registering and monitoring of pet breeding businesses
  • Investigation of barking dogs, dog attacks and other animal complaints.

Under the provisions of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (the Act) all councils in Victoria have developed a domestic animal management plan which is renewed every 4 years.

This plan outlines the council's:

  • services
  • programs and policies established to address the administration of the Act
  • management of dog and cat issues in their community.

The Local Government Act 1989 requires councils to maintain a website that lists its public notices and documents, including their domestic animal management plan.

Find your local Council website and contact details.

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