Incident reduction behind pet bylaw push

WITH a decision on proposed new pet bylaws drawing nearer the City of Greater Bendigo is taking public feedback on the issue until Monday, 23 February.

The planned changes to the municipality’s updated Domestic Animal Management Plan would mean all cats must remain on their owner’s property 24 hours a day and dogs can only be off leash in designated public areas.

The proposed changes have been heatedly debated online but the City’s acting manager of safe and healthy environments, Sam Johnston, said “The main focus is about responsible pet ownership” and incident reduction.

“The benefit of a 24-hour cat containment order is a reduction in cats wandering and nuisance issues between neighbours, and to reduce risk of injury from cars, disease, poison baits and other animals,” he said.

“The benefit of a default dogs on-leash order is to reduce incidents of rush or attack and promote a fair and equitable use of public space between all users.”

The proposed changes to the animal bylaw were put together following a survey of more than 1130 residents in 2021.

About 85 responses on the updated rules have been received by the municipality following a recent reminder of the proposed changes Mr Johnson said.

“There are more in favour of the proposed new orders than against, but there is a wide spectrum of feedback, and some people will always be more passionate, one way or the other,” he said.

Results of the 2021 survey found that 80 per cent of those surveyed support a 24/7 cat curfew and 76 per cent support having dogs on leads at all times unless in designated areas.

If you want to have your say on the current proposals head to the City’s feedback website, letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au and fill in the online form.