Golden Plains Shire Council adopted the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 (DAMP) at its Council meeting on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
The DAMP was placed on a period of public exhibition in July 2025 and received 4 submissions from the community. All submissions were considered in the adoption of the final Plan.
Under the Victorian Government’s Domestic Animals Act 1994, every Council in Victoria must prepare a domestic animal management plan every four years. The plan outlines the services, programs, and policies in place to administer the Act and manage dog and cat issues within the community.
The DAMP promotes responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, outlines actions that Council will take to address impact of nuisance pets on the community and the environment and also establishes a framework to assess the adequacy of animal management services which are funded by registration fees from cats and dogs.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey says the adoption of Domestic Animal Management Plan is essential for animal management across the Shire.
The DAMP proactively seeks to manage and mitigate risks associated with dog and cat ownership in the Shire to ensure the safety of our community, welfare of animals and protection of the environment, Cr Sharkey said.
We want to continue protecting the community from nuisance animals and dog attacks and promote the importance of responsible pet ownership. This Plan will help us achieve these outcomes, he said.
The adopted DAMP can be viewed at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/council-strategies.
For further information, contact Regulatory Services team at [email protected] or call 5220 7111.