Council adopts a Domestic Animal Management Plan that puts its best paw forward

Yarra City Council puts the priority of our pets at the heart of new Plan  

Yarra City Council has adopted a new Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) that places the priorities of both our two-legged and four-legged community members at the centre of how we manage domestic dogs and cats in our city.  

City of Yarra Mayor, Cr Stephen Jolly said the Plan encourages responsible animal ownership and recognises the positive benefits associated with pets.  

“We know that people with pets love the opportunity to connect with other pet owners, and as our city continues to grow, we need to make sure that we encourage greater use of our open space,” said Cr Jolly. 

“One of the features of this plan is that our local community really got behind it and made sure they had their say – so thank you to everyone who provided feedback online and in-person.”  

The adoption of a new DAMP follows extensive consultation that included more than 600 responses.  

The key themes from the feedback received included a desire for more education, safe and well-maintained areas, clear information, enhanced customer experience, balancing the needs of both park users and pet owners, and proactive enforcement. This has been reflected within the new Plan.  

You can learn more about the DAMP and understand how the community’s feedback helped contribute to the document here. 

The amended version of the DAMP will be available in the Minutes from the Council Meeting.