New cat curfew to take effect July 1

BENDIGO’S cats will have to be confined to their owners’ properties 24 hours a day from July 1.

The curfew follows the introduction of an on-leash default requirement for dogs coming into effect on January 1, and is part of the City of Greater Bendigo’s adoption of the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021-2025 in 2021.

The 24-hour cat containment – replacing a long-standing dusk-to-dawn curfew – and the change to the dog leash regulations followed an online survey which received a record number of 1131 responses.

The survey, which ran for almost a month, was part of a community consultation process as the city moved to fulfil its obligations under the Domestic Animals Act (1994), which requires councils to prepare a Domestic Animal Management Plan.

According to the city, Greater Bendigo has one of the highest levels of companion animal ownership in Victoria, with more than one-third of households owning a cat or a dog. It says that for every 100 people in Bendigo, there are an average of about 18 dogs and six cats.

“With 5400 requests for service per annum, five of every 100 people in the community are impacted by dogs and cats,” it says.

“This is the second-largest cause of complaint to Council and accounts for about 17 per cent of the total number of customer requests every year.”

Greater Bendigo mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said 75 per cent of cat containment submissions received during the consultation period were in support of a 24-hour curfew and 25 per cent were opposed.

“The council’s decision means that all cats must be securely confined to their owners’ property 24 hours a day and dogs can only be off-leash in designated off-leash public areas within the municipality,” Cr Metcalf said.

“Section 25 of the Domestic Animals Act refers to cats found at large. This section allows Victorian councils to make an order that specifies where cats are permitted during what hours, as prescribed by the order.

“It also provides penalties if cats are found at large.”

More information about the changes to the cat and dog regulations are available at bendigo.vic.gov.au.