Domestic Animal Management Plan 2022-2025

Introduction

Every Victorian Local government must, under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, prepare a plan outlining how it will manage dogs and cats within its municipal boundaries.

The plan identifies how the council will:

help pets, pet owners and the general community to live together
protect the environment and local wildlife from the negative impacts of dogs and cats
balance the needs of those who own pets with those who do not
address animal management welfare and legal issues
promote responsible pet ownership
improve the experience of animal ownership

This survey forms part of the City’s consultation with the community regarding domestic animal issues. It will help us better understand the community’s views on what we do well, what we need to improve and make us aware of any other issues important to you.

By completing this survey, you are helping us shape the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) for the next four years, and ensure we are focusing our efforts on what matters to our whole community.

Privacy statement

The personal information requested on this form is being collected by City of Greater Geelong for the purpose of the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2022-2025 or any other directly related purpose. If the personal information is not collected, we may not be able to contact you for further questions or solutions.

Your personal information will not be disclosed, except as required to do so by law. Our privacy policy is available on our website. If you wish to alter any of the personal information you have supplied to City of Greater Geelong, please contact us by sending an email to privacy@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.

Disclaimer

Please note, each survey topic (see topic list below) has between three to six related questions. Each topic section may take a few minutes to complete.
Select all of the topics below that you are interested in, and the related questions will appear for you to complete.

Your feedback will be made anonymous and will form part of the consultation findings report, as well as shape themes in the Domestic Animal Management Plan.
By completing the survey, you are agreeing to the use of your survey entry.

1. Please select sections of the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) that you would like to provide feedback on (you can choose as many as you like): *This question is required.

2. Which suburb do you live in? *This question is required.

3. Which age bracket do you belong to? *This question is required.

4. To which gender identity do you most identify:

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

5. Do you own a domestic pet? *This question is required.

Dogs in Public Places

The City of Greater Geelong is a dogs on leash municipality unless otherwise indicated by signage.
The purpose of this is to reduce the level of conflict between dogs and the general community. However, the size of the municipality makes it difficult to enforce.
We also recognise that dog owners need ample space to exercise and socialise their four-legged friends, and the City is committed to achieving safe, shared spaces for all to enjoy.

6. Do you believe the City provides a good balance of dog-friendly and dog-restricted public areas? *This question is required.

6. How well do you think your local community follows dog on-leash orders?

Not well at all

Okay

Very well

6. What percentage of the time do you follow your local dog on-leash orders? *This question is required.

Never (0%)

Sometimes (50%)

Always (100%)

6. What are the reasons for providing this response? *This question is required.

6. Do you believe there is enough signage to guide you or other dog walkers on how dogs should be managed in the public spaces you use? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Is there a particular public space you would like to see more signage?

6. What do you think would encourage more people to abide by on-leash orders? *This question is required.

6. Do you have any further feedback on how dogs in public places are managed?

Dog Poo

In the City of Greater Geelong, it is a dog owner’s responsibility to carry poo bags with them at all times and to pick up poo, and then dispose of the poo bags responsibly.

6. Do you think uncollected dog poo is an issue in the City of Greater Geelong region? *This question is required.

6. Why do you feel dog poo is an issue? *This question is required.

Unsightly
Smell
Health risk
Environmental contamination
Annoying, and not my responsibility to clean up after others
Other - Write In Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Are there any particular suburbs or public spaces where you regularly observe uncollected dog poo and would like the Local Laws team to be aware of?

6. What do you think could be done to improve dog poo collection and disposal by dog owners?

Dogs in coastal areas

The City of Greater Geelong manages 20 coastal reserves.
Two areas of coast in the region are managed by State Government appointed committees, the Barwon Coast Committee of Management (Connewarre to Collendina) and Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee (Portarlington to St Leonards).

Dog control orders in coastal areas exist to support the fair use of coastline for all, including dogs.
Most coastal areas contain areas of high environmental significance, such as sand dunes and wetlands, and they are important to wildlife.

The broad range of views expressed during previous community consultation processes, shows that the issue of dogs on beaches remains a contentious issue.

6. Are you aware that the City works with Coastal Management committees regarding dogs on beaches and dog orders in their region? *This question is required.

6. Would you like to leave feedback about a Coastal Management committee area? *This question is required.

6. Would you like to leave feedback about a City managed coastal area? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. What would you like the City to consider? *This question is required.

Dog Attacks and Incidents

Responding to dog attacks is the top priority for our animal management officers.
Between July 1 2018 and January 1 2021, there were 528 dog attacks in our municipality. This is inclusive of “serious” and “non-serious’ attacks on humans and animals alike.

6. Have you experienced or witnessed a negative incident with a dog/s when in a public space? *This question is required.

6. What sort of incident did you experience or witness? *This question is required.

Attacked by a dog
Your pet was attacked by a dog
A menacing rush (where dog approaches aggressively ensuing fear)
Knocked over or run into by a dog
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

6. Did you report this incident to Council? *This question is required.

6. Were you satisfied with how Council managed the incident? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Can you identify how this incident could have been avoided? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Do you have any suggestions about how we may be able to reduce dog attacks in our community?

Open Space Needs

The Greater Geelong region is home to hundreds of walking tracks, parks and recreation reserves where people can take their dogs.

By default, all other public areas in our municipality have been designated as being 'on-leash' for the purposes of dogs, except where otherwise signed. This is to protect wildlife and preserve the safety of all community members including children, the elderly, those with varied abilities and those with a fear of dogs.

The City recognises that limited lot sizes and lack of space to exercise dogs, can present a challenge for residents in new housing developments. This can result in problem behaviour, such as frequent escaping and incessant barking.

In light of this, the City made a conscious effort in 2018, in line with the Dogs in Public Places Policy, to increase the number of off-leash areas available for dog owners to take their dogs that would have minimal impact on the wider community. There are currently over 40 off-leash supervised or off-leash conditional reserves within the municipality, as well as seasonal and year-round dog-off leash coastal areas.

6. When considering where you live, do you feel you have ample access to public open space that allows dog on leash use? *This question is required.

6. When considering where you live, do you feel you have ample access to public open space that allow dog off leash use? *This question is required.

6. When considering where you live, do you feel you have ample access to public open space that prohibit dog use? *This question is required.

6. If you are living in a unit, townhouse, or on a small block in one of the municipality’s newer estates, did you, or will you, factor in the lack of outdoor space when choosing a pet?
*This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

Nuisance cats & dogs

The Animal Management team are required to investigate all complaints regarding barking dogs and trespassing cats.

Our goal in every situation is to work closely with everyone involved to try and reach a positive outcome. However, these situations are often very complicated and resolving these conflicts can be difficult.

6. Do you experience issues with nuisance cats in your neighbourhood?

6. Is this in relation to: *This question is required.

Trespass (cat coming on to your property uninvited)
Stray cats (unowned cats that roam your neighbourhood)
Feral cats (wild)
Unwanted litters
Destruction of property (cat faeces, damage to plants etc)
Exceeding animal allowances (more than 2 cats on the property)
Impact on native birds and animals
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

6. Do you have any suggestions on how the City could better manage cats or respond to nuisance cat issues? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Do you experience issues with nuisance dogs in your neighbourhood?
*This question is required.

6. Is this in relation to:
*This question is required.

Barking
Dogs escaping their property
Menacing behaviour
Dogs not being kept on leash in on leash public spaces
Uncollected foreign dog poo on your property
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

6. Do you have any suggestions on how the City could better manage nuisance dogs or respond to nuisance dog issues? *This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

Identification and returning of lost animals

In Victoria, all dogs and cats are legally required to be registered with your local council by 3-months of age. They must also be microchipped and wear a registration tag when on public property.

It is essential to keep both your council registration details and microchipping details up to date to ensure we can identify your pet, and return it directly to you whenever required as quickly as possible.

6. Are you aware that you are required to have your pet cats and dogs microchipped and additionally registered with your local Council by the time they are 3 months of age? *This question is required.

6. Are your animals registered with Council? *This question is required.

6. What would you say are the main barriers preventing you from registering your pet with Council? *This question is required.

Expense
No time
Don't know how
Thought that microchipping meant it was registered with Council
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

6. Are you aware that you need to update your personal details including address changes with Council and Central Animal Records (Microchipping registry), to allow a swift reunion should your pet get lost? *This question is required.

6. Do you have any suggestions about how we could encourage more people to register and microchip their pets?
*This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Can you think of other ways pets could more efficiently be reunited with their owners?
*This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

Cat desexing

Unwanted litters of kittens cause significant overcrowding at local shelter facilities. Dumped or unowned kittens can also turn into feral cats, posing a major threat to our local wildlife.

Cats must be desexed prior to registration at 3 months of age.

While it is not compulsory to desex dogs, it is recommended for non-breeding dogs to reduce aggression and tendency to roam.

6. Is your cat desexed? *This question is required.

6. What are the barriers preventing you from doing so?
*This question is required.

6. Were you aware of the City’s discount desexing month that runs each July? *This question is required.

6. How do you think the City can better publicise this program? *This question is required.

6. Do you have any suggestions on how you believe Council could further support and encourage the community to desex their animals?

Responsible pet ownership

Being a responsible pet owner is key in keeping all members of our community feeling happy and safe in our shared public spaces.

Regardless of whether you own a cat or dog, it is your responsibility to ensure they do not become a nuisance to your neighbours and the broader community, whether that be through disruptive or threatening behaviour, not collecting animal droppings, etc.

A central role that our animal management team plays, is helping members of our community understand what being a responsible pet owner means.

A responsible pet owner is someone who:

considers the needs of all users of public space
prevents their animal from causing harm or intimidation to others
sees to the welfare and social needs of their animal
abides by the dog control orders in public places
minimises nuisance to others and the environment
has an animal that is desexed, microchipped and registered
secures their property to contain their pet.

6. What do you think it means to be a responsible pet owner?

6. Are you aware there is a local law that all cats should be desexed by the time they are 3 months of age? *This question is required.

6. Are you aware of the need to vaccinate your pet to protect their health and longevity?
*This question is required.

6. Do you generally observe pet owners obeying the laws regarding keeping dogs on leash where required?
*This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Do you generally observe pet owners obeying the laws regarding picking up after their dog?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Do you generally observe pet owners obeying the laws regarding having effective control of their dog when off lead?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Do you generally observe pet owners obeying the laws regarding complying with cat curfew?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. How do you think the City can encourage more of our community members to be responsible pet owners?

Dog parks

in June 2020, the City announced its plans to create two new fenced dog parks in Greater Geelong.

The proposed facilities, to be located in Belmont and Lara, will offer purpose-built spaces for dog owners to exercise their pets off-leash in a controlled manner.

Features of the dog parks include:

A dog training and obstacle area;
Challenges such as balance beams, hurdles, weave poles, a tunnel and sand area;
A separate space for small and/or timid dogs;
Paths and seating.

The Belmont park is proposed to be built in the large open space reserve under the Settlement Road Bridge on Barrabool Road.

The dog park in Lara is set to be developed in Hovells Creek Reserve along Rennie Street.

The sites are among three fenced dog parks that the Council has committed to building over the next year.

A proposed location on the Bellarine Peninsula is still to be determined.

6. Would you like to leave any comments regarding dog parks (use, locations, rules, features, etc)? *This question is required.

Domestic Animal Businesses

The City currently has 48 registered Domestic Animal Businesses, varying from pet groomers, boarding facilities, day care facilities, breeders and dog trainers.

6. Are you aware that animal businesses such as dog trainers, pet boarding and day care facilities are required by law, to be registered with the Council?
*This question is required.

6. Are you aware you can report concerns regarding the operation of animal management businesses to Council for investigation? *This question is required.

6. Additional comments:

Animal Management Team

A qualified, competent, visible and responsive team is required to deliver high standards of service to the community.
The size of the municipality can make it difficult to maintain a visible community presence and some pet owners may mistakingly think they can take advantage of this and disregard
local laws and dog control orders.

Our animal management officers deal with a large volume and variety of domestic animal complaints, and undertake investigations to ensure community safety and confidence.

Each officer is required to have either:
• Certificate IV Animal Control and Compliance
• Certificate IV in Government (Statutory Compliance) or higher-level qualifications.

Each officer completes training in animal handling and prosecutions, including the collection of evidence for court proceedings. All new staff are also required to undertake a corporate induction.

6. Have you seen our Animal Management Officers patrolling? *This question is required.

6. Have the branded Animal Management vehicles increased your awareness of the officers out in the public? *This question is required.

6. Have you had an interaction with a member of the Animal Management team? *This question is required.

6. How would you describe the experience?

6. Do you have any suggestions for our Animal Management team? (things you think we could do better, issues we may not be aware of etc)

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. Would you like to leave any further feedback or comments about any of the topics listed above, or another animal-centric issue that is not discussed above? *This question is required.