By Callum Ludwig
Keeping our cherished cats and precious puppies under control is a key safety and environmental consideration in the Yarra Ranges.
Council touched on the issue when recently discussing their draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) for 2022-2026 ahead of releasing it for community consultation at the Tuesday 27 September council meeting.
Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham moved the motion and said when he originally saw this pop-up, he asked a few questions of Council officers because he considers getting this into the community very important.
“I receive a number of requests, thankfully not on to regular of a basis, but of community’s concerns around how Council can intervene or enforce around dog attacks and rushes. The draft Domestic Animal Management Plan isn’t all about that, but it could be catastrophic if we get it wrong,” he said.
“We’ve got well over 30,000 registered dogs and cats within our system and there might be a few more out there. A few of the key inclusions within this plan that I think is really worth calling out are the focus on supporting and incentivizing registration of the domestic animal businesses and conversation around dog off-leash areas and what that looks like.”
Two other key inclusions included in the agenda were partnership initiatives with Councils pound contractor Animal Aid and dog obedience clubs to minimise the incidence of barking dog complaints and targeted programs and research-based initiatives to address specific animal welfare issues, such as cat wandering, semi-owned and feral cats.
Cr Eastham said Council want the community to be as safe as possible and to balance that out right with those that have pets and want to take them out and about.
“I can honestly say that I’ve gotten nearly 10 people that have spoken to me in the last few months around their concerns about what Council is doing for domestic animal management, and this is going to be the opportunity for them to have their say,” he said.
“I really look forward to seeing the community actually contribute to this because as much as one of those four-year cyclic events that we need to get this document out.”
Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan seconded the motion and said he fully agreed with everything Cr Eastham said, particularly in relation to dogs.
“It’s been nine years now since we bought in the orders to keep cats confined on properties. I’ve been gravely concerned for many years now having lived in the area for 36 years and I’ve seen a substantial increase in the population of feral cats,” he said.
“People have to understand that they have a very serious responsibility in keeping their cats contained on their property day and night. I can’t emphasize enough that substantial amounts of our marsupials and birds are getting destroyed and killed every year because of the movement of feral cats.”
Council’slarge pet registration database has over 25,185 dogs and 8,483 cats on its registration system, a total of 33,668 animals. This is a decrease of 4,438 (12 per cent) between 2018 and 2021.
Cr Heenan said he has seen stray cats with his own eyes around the are he lives.
“I’ve seen them many years of walking along sections of the Warburton Rail Trail, Mt Evelyn Aqueduct Trail and the Silvan pipe track and I’ve even removed food people have put out for stray cats,” he said.
“We have to get this under control. I think there is a good scope in the plan in relation to the management of dogs, but I want to see a stronger focus on people understanding their responsibilities in the management of their cats on their property.”
No councillors were opposed to the motion to open the draft plan for community feedback and it was passed unanimously.
