Dog parks, education programs and nuisance complaint resolutions have emerged as some of the key focuses of the City’s new pets management plan.
Geelong council endorsed the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2026-29 at Tuesday’s meeting, which includes a comprehensive checklist of actions the City has committed to delivering over the next four years.
The DAMP, which the state government requires to be updated every four years, outlines how the City’s animal management services are delivered, data related to service provision and outcomes and how its programs will be delivered.
Important issues covered by the plan include increasing registration rates, promoting responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, nuisance animals, open space needs and dog attacks.
Councillor Melissa Cadwell emphasised the actions outlined in the plan were the direct result of the community’s input.
“We’ve really noted community feedback, particularly around issues of high levels of non-compliance with animal registrations…concerns around leasing requirements and issues around wandering cats,” she said.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback (about) cat owners not complying with the 12-hour sunset-to-sunrise curfew, which is a concern, and around people not picking up their dog and cat refuse.”
Geelong has one of the largest animal populations in Victoria, with more than 35,000 dogs and 10,000 cats registered with the City.
Councillors Anthony Aitken and Emma Sinclair voiced their support for changes around greyhound restrictions and more off-leash areas for the breed.
“For all the retired greyhound owners out there, which is a huge community… we would love to see some action around some off-leash spaces,” Cr Sinclair said.
