Shire completes review of its domestic animals policy

THE Surf Coast Shire has completed a review into its Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP).

Councillors noted the outcome of the review at their meeting in December.

The 2017-21 DAMP sets out an overall framework and a method for evaluating animal control services provided by the shire to give effect to the requirements of the Domestic Animals Act and the regulations.

The plan aims to ensure the council meets its obligations under the act in a number of areas, including registration and identification programs and strategies, nuisance management, dog attacks and dangerous dogs, domestic animal businesses, and domestic animal overpopulation and euthanasia.

According to a performance reporting summary of the DAMP, nearly half (28) of the 58 actions under the plan are ongoing.

Eight are complete. These include a review of extending the provision of dog litter bag dispensers and disposal bins in parks and beach car parks, and increasing the number of cat traps for hire by 25 per cent in the first year to catch wandering and stray cats.

Sixteen are listed as “not yet commenced”, including proactively trapping on council bushland reserves before cat breeding season and humanely destroying feral cats, and conducting a doorknock and phone campaign to follow up overdue registrations.