Domestic Animal Management Plan2013 – 2017

Legislative Context

Introduction

Moonee Valley at a glance

Domestic animal statistics

Department overview

Our Key Actions

1Officer Training and Development

2Identification and Registration

3Encouraging Responsible Pet Ownership

4 Dog Attacks

5Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted Breed Dogs

6Overpopulation and High Euthanasia

7Domestic Animal Businesses

8Annual Review of Plan and Annual Reporting

Legislative Context

Domestic Animal Management Plans

Section 68A of the Domestic Animals Act 1994, states the following with regards to domestic animal management plans:

68ACouncils to prepare domestic animal management plans

(1)Every Council must, in consultation with the Secretary (of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries), prepare at 4 yearintervals a domestic animal management plan.

(2)A domestic animal management plan prepared by a Council must—

(a)set out a method for evaluating whether the animal control services provided by the Council in its municipal district are adequate to give effect to the requirements of this Act and the regulations; and

(b)outline programs for the training of authorised officers to ensure that they can properly administer and enforce the requirements of this Act in the Council's municipal district; and

(c)outline programs, services and strategies which the Council intends to pursue in its municipal district—

(i)to promote and encourage the responsible ownership of dogs and cats; and

(ii)to ensurethat people comply with this Act, the regulations and any related legislation; and

(iii)to minimise the risk of attacks by dogs on people and animals; and

(iv)to address any over-population and high euthanasia rates for dogs and cats; and

(v)to encourage the registration and identification of dogs and cats; and

(vi)to minimise the potential for dogs and cats to create a nuisance; and

(vii)to effectively identify all dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed dogs in that district and to ensure that those dogs are kept in compliance with this Act and the regulations; and

(d)provide for the review of existing orders made under this Act and local laws that relate to the Council's municipal district with a view to determining whether further orders or local laws dealing with the management of dogs and cats in the municipal district are desirable; and

(e)provide for the review of any other matters related to the management of dogs and cats in the Council's municipal district that it thinks necessary; and

(f)provide for the periodic evaluation of any program, service, strategy or review outlined under the plan.

(3)Every Council must—

(a)review its domestic animal management plan annually and, if appropriate, amend the plan; and

(b)provide the Secretary with a copy of the plan and any amendments to the plan; and

(c)publish an evaluation of its implementation of the plan in its annual report.

Introduction

As outlined, the Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires all Victorian Councils to prepare a 4 (four) yearly Domestic Animal Management (DAM) Plan. The legislation stipulates the requirements that a DAM Plan must meet, as well as outlining the programs, services and strategies that Council intends to pursue in relation to domestic animal issues.

The primary focus of the Plan is the management of companion animals, namely dogs and cats, their owners and the concerns of the wider community while addressing a range of legislative issues relating to animal management within Moonee Valley.

It is well understood that animal management entails more than just the collection of animals. Animal management officers play an important role in promoting responsible pet ownership throughout the municipality and to help promote a positive environment for domestic animals.

This plan is designed to improve the provision of animal management services by maintaining the traditional Local Government role while responding to new and emerging animal management issues.

Moonee Valley at a glance

The City of Moonee Valley is located in Melbourne’s north-west suburbs covering 43 square kilometres, located between four and thirteen kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.

Around 113,500 residents or 45,000 households call Moonee Valley home. The community is culturally and linguistically diverse, with more than a quarter of the population born overseas.

The City of Moonee Valley includes the suburbs of Aberfeldie, Airport West, Ascot Vale, Avondale Heights, Essendon, Essendon North, Essendon West, Flemington, Keilor East, Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, Strathmore, Strathmore Heights and Travancore. The municipality has a varied range of residential lot sizes and residential density, including a high concentration of flats and units.

Moonee Valley has 1,987,049 square metres of open space which incorporates 166 parks, gardens and reserves; and waterways that link major parks and open spaces across the City.

Moonee Valley’s open spaces are used by all members of the community, including both pet owners and non pet owners, for shared activities. There are nine parks within the Municipality that are designated ‘off leash’ areas where dogs are able to play and exercise with the owner’s supervision without a leash. These areas have been specifically chosen for a number of reasons including location, facilities and environmental significance. Some of these open spaces are also specifically utilised as areas for dog training sessions.
Domestic animal statistics

A comparative analysis of the key animal management statistics taken at the start and at the end of our last DAM plan is provided in the tables below:

Dogs / 2009 / 2012
Number of registered dogs / 8,468 / 10,356
Number of registered dangerous dogs / 6 / 4
Number of registered guard dogs / 6 / 4
Number of registered restricted breed dogs / 1 / 2
Number of registered menacing dogs / 1 / 4
Number of dogs impounded / 447 / 419
Number of dogs impounded that are returned to owner / 229 / 299
Number of dogs rehoused to a new home / 41 / 53
Number of dogs euthanised / 77 / 42
Cats / 2009 / 2012
Number of registered cats / 3,672 / 3,776
Number of cats impounded / 459 / 426
Number of cats impounded that are returned to owner / 19 / 28
Number of cats euthanised / 424 / 361
Number cats rehoused / 16 / 18
Request for Service/complaints / 2009 / 2012
Dog – attack, rush or bite / 50 / 105
Dog – barking / 182 / 215
Dog – soiling / 15 / 14
Dog – at large / 179 / 419
Dogs seized by Council (a result of an attack or dangerous nature) / 2 / 11
Animal (dog and cat) pick ups carried out by the Lost Dogs Home (after 4pm) / 627 / 445
Animal nuisances / 38 / 19
Infringements / 131 / 473
Registered domestic animal businesses / 2009 / 2012
Pet shops / 0 / 3
Day care Centres / 0 / 1

Department overview

A vertical slice of Council’s organisational structure, including the Local Laws (Animal Management) team is as follows, from top:

  • Chief Executive
  • Director Corporate Services
  • Manager Governance and Local Laws
  • Coordinator and Local Laws
  • Team Leader Local Laws
  • Local Laws Administration
  • Local Laws Animal Management Officer, Project Office Local Laws, Local Laws Animal Officer

The Local Laws work team is a part of the Governance & Local Laws Department within the Corporate Services Group.

Council’s Local Laws team is overseen by a Coordinator (Parking Control & Local Laws), and comprises a Team Leader, and two full time Local Laws Officers (Animal Management Officers), a Local Laws Project Officer and a Local Laws Administration Officer.
Our Key Actions

1Officer Training and Development

Question What does the Domestic Animal Act 1994 stipulate?

Answer68(A)(2)(b) Outline programs for the training of authorised officers to ensure that they can properly administer and enforce the requirements of this Act in the Council's municipal district

Objectiveto ensure that all staff involved in animal management has the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively carry out their work.

Current Training:

Officers / Description
Team Leader / Workplace behaviours
Trim training (electronic document management system)
Investigations and enforcement workshop
Managing difficult customers (level 2)
Enforcement officer media training
Business writing skills
Interpreting breed standards – DEPI
Animal handling – The Lost Dogs Home
Officer 1 / Workplace behaviours
Trim training (electronic document management system)
Investigations and enforcement workshop
Managing difficult customers (level 2)
Enforcement officer media training
Business writing skills
Breed Identification – DEPI
Animal handling – The Lost Dogs Home
Certificate IV in Government (Statutory Compliance)
Certificate IV in animal control and regulation
Officer 2 / Currently vacant
Project Officer / Workplace behaviours
Trim training (electronic document management system)
Word accessibility
Investigations and enforcement workshop
Managing difficult customers (level 2)
Enforcement officer media training
Business writing skills
Breed Identification – DEPI
Animal handling – The Lost Dogs Home

Officer Training and Development Proposed Program

1.1Develop a training policy that clearly identifies minimum training requirements and any additional training needs that should be undertaken.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Identify minimum training requirements by consultation with management and staff. / October 2013 / Documentation to be finalised and incorporated into approved Local Laws training register.
Identify additional training opportunities with accredited training organisations by consultation with management and staff. / November 2013 / Documentation to be finalised and incorporated into approved Local Laws training register.

1.2Develop and maintain a training register for individual officers detailing completed and proposed training by 2013.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Create a register to record completed and future proposed training. / October 2013 / Review quarterly, to ensure accuracy and determine whether proposed training goals have been met.

1.3 Ensure all Authorised Officers have completed their minimum training requirements within 12 months of appointment.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Identify minimum training requirements (e.g. OH&S, animal handling) and update document to record when officers have completed each course. / Within 12 months of appointment / Quarterly, review register and ensure each officer has completed minimum training requirements within 12 months of appointment.

1.4Offer at least 2 opportunities for additional internal training each year.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Identify additional training opportunities eg. prosecutions training, conflict management, communication/education technique. / Annually / The number of training sessions offered, and the actual number undertaken by officers.

2Identification and Registration

Question: What does the Domestic Animal Act 1994 stipulate?

Answer: 68A(2)(c)(v)Outline programs, services and strategies to encourage the registration and identification of dogs and cats

- also address 68A(2)(a),(c)(i),(c)(ii),(d),(f)

Objective: to ensure that Council is promoting and encouraging the registration and identification of domestic animals.

What does Council have in place?

General Purposes Local Law

Clause 51 of Council’s General Purposes Local Law 2008 deals with the keeping and housing of animals and specifics the maximum number of dogs or cats allowed on a property or in a flat.

Council Policies and Procedures
  • Registration fees are determined by Council during its annual budget process.
  • Seizure and impounding of unregistered and/or unidentified dogs and cats.
  • Enforcement protocols associated with issuing notices to comply, infringement notices and filing charges for prosecution regarding breaches of the Act.
Our current Education/Promotion Activities
  • Ongoing campaign utilising various media outlets.
  • Provide de-sexing vouchers to low income residents.
  • Promotion of responsible pet ownership through annual microchipping day, park patrols and public engagement at Council festivals and community events.
Current Compliance Activities
  • Issue reminder notices; follow up phone calls; conduct property visits and then initiate prosecution action against non compliant owners.
  • Issue Notice to Comply to owners with unregistered animals.
  • Check all injured and deceased animals for registration tag or microchip to be able to inform animal owner.

Identification and Registration Proposed Program

2.1Update the council registration database by cross-referencing with pet shop dog and cat sales notifications data.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Check the registration details of all notifications of dogs and cats sold at pet shops and follow up those that aren’t registered. / Quarterly / Create and utilise the animal sales database to perform a check to ensure that dogs and cats being sold to Moonee Valley residents are being registered with Council.

2.2Increase dog and cat registration numbers each year.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Targeted door knocking of non-renewed pets each year. / No later than July, annually / Cross reference animal registration number pre and post door knock.
Investigate the possibility of enhancing online payment options. / January 2014 / Liaise with external suppliers and internal departments for feasibility and cost effectiveness.
Investigate the possibility of an electronic renewal process for animal owners that elect to receive non paper renewals and notifications. / December 2014 / Liaise with external suppliers and internal departments for feasibility and cost effectiveness.

2.3Monitor and regulate excess animal permits.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Create and maintain a database to record all excess animal permits issued. / October 2013
Annually / Satisfactory completion.
Undertake annual audit to verify total permits issued.

2.4Conduct a feasibility study on the merits of lifetime tags.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Investigate the merits or otherwise of introducing lifetime tags for dogs and cats. / October 2014 / Liaise with external suppliers and internal departments for feasibility and cost effectiveness.

3Encouraging Responsible Pet Ownership

Question: What does the Domestic Animal Act 1994 stipulate?

Answer: 68A(2)(c)(vi)Outline programs, services and strategies to minimise the potential for dogs and cats to create a nuisance

- also addresses 68A(2)(a),(c)(i),(c)(ii),(d),(f)

Objective: to ensure that Council is minimising the incidents of nuisances involving domestic animals.

What does Council have in place?

Cat Curfew

Council has introduced a Cat curfew that requires all cats to be kept on their property between sunset and sunrise.

General Purposes Local Law

Clauses 51, 54 and 55 of Council’s General Purposes Local Law 2008 deal with the keeping of animals; animal excrement and noise respectively.

Council Policies and Procedures
  • Council offers a free cat trapping program.
  • Operational procedures to assist officers in dealing with animal nuisance complaints.
Our current Education/Promotion Activities
  • Council educates and enforces people not picking up after their dog through our park patrols and resident feedback.
  • Various communication methods are used to educate residents and visitors such as: attendance at community events; distribution of information kits and advertising on Council website, community billboards, local paper and Valley View.
Our current Compliance Activities
  • Patrolling parks and streets to ensure dog owners are carrying litter devices.
  • Issue Notice to Comply and infringements where necessary.
  • Investigate nuisance complaints adhering to set timeframes.
  • Encourage the use of de-sexing vouchers to reduce the number of stray cats.

Encouraging Responsible Pet Ownership Proposed Program

3.1Improve and update information regarding nuisance issues.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Encourage residents to report animal nuisances (including feral strays) to enable Council to assist in resolving complaints and improve the general amenity. / Ongoing / The number of complaints received.
Review Council website and social media for effective ways of connecting with animal owners. / Bi-annually / The number of times that relevant pages on Council website were visited.
Assist residents in dealing with cat trespass / nuisance problems by purchasing additional cat cages, to better meet community demand. / October 2013 / The number of cats impounded.
Investigate new and effective options for disposal of animal excrement. / December 2013 / Report for Council consideration.

3.2Decrease the timeframe of nuisance investigations from point of lodgement to resolution.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Review barking dog investigation
procedure and effect changes to facilitate timely resolutions and encourage neighbourhood cooperation prior to Council involvement. / December
2013 / The average number of days taken, to resolve barking dog complaints.
The implementation of a new barking dog procedure.

3.3Promote responsible pet ownership service available.

Activity / When / Evaluation
Make information kit covering all aspects of being a responsible pet owner readily available to residents, pet shops and breeders. / October 2013 / The number of information kits distributed.
Investigate new and effective options to assist those residents who are unable to temporarily care for their animal. / December 2013 / Implementation of a viable and effective service model.
Investigate the possible introduction of a dog only park. / December 2014 / Consultation with public and relevant Council departments.

4Dog Attacks

Question: What does the Domestic Animal Act 1994 stipulate?

Answer: 68A(2)(c)(iii)Outline programs, services and strategies to minimise the risk of attacks by dogs on people and animals

- also addresses 68A(2)(a),(c)(i),(c)(ii),(d),(f)

Objective: to ensure that Council is minimising the risk of attacks by dogs on individuals and other animals.

What does Council have in place?

Council Order

Council created an Order under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, (effective from 1 July 2011) directing that dogs must be under effective control in certain locations.

General Purposes Local Law

Clause 51 of Council’s General Purposes Local Law 2008 deals with the number of dogs and cats allowed on a property.

Council Policies and Procedures
  • Seize dogs involved in serious attacks.
  • Housing requirements and increased registration fees for dogs declared dangerous/menacing.
Our current Education/Promotion Activities
  • Patrolling.
  • Use of educational signage in shared open space.
  • Promote responsible pet ownership at community events such as festivals, resident meetings, groups and schools visits.
  • Educate owners whose dogs have behavioural issues.
Our current Compliance Activities
  • Accurately record and maintain records of all dog attacks.
  • Actively prosecute owners of dogs involved in serious attacks on people or animals.
  • Issue infringements, Declarations and Notices to Comply.
  • Enforce and promote on leash requirements under Council’s Order.
  • Distribute educational material to promote responsible pet ownership including interactions with dogs in and around the home.

Dog Attacks Proposed Program

4.1Improve awareness of safety around dogs to help minimise number of dog attacks.