Domestic animal management plan

Current and Planned Training

• Identify additional training opportunities within the initial engagement of this DAMP and ongoing feedback to improve customer experience.
• Coordinator to review and distribute standard operating procedure to all officers for comment and feedback to enable best practice and confirm legislative requirements.

Registration and Identification

• Annual check of microchipping databases to increase registration of cats & dogs.
• Review of animal registration process.
• Explore the feasibility of a desexing voucher scheme to further increase registration compliance and mitigate costs to the community.
• Explore partnerships with pounds/shelters to facilitate registration.

Nuisance

• Design temporary signage (containing educative messages) that are highly portable and display such signs for short periods on a rotation basis at the identified parks and reserves.
• Review signage and other infrastructure in parks, such as bag dispensers, fountains, etc.

Overpopulations and High Euthanasia

• Review all information around cat populations and encourage participation of the existing cat trapping program provided by Council.

Other Matters:

• Investigate the need for information to be published in multi-lingual formats.
• Review processes for officers when dealing with matters relating to family and domestic violence where pets are involved.
• Review process for officers when dealing with homeless community members where pets are involved.

Overpopulations and High Euthanasia

• Review all information on the impacts of cat overpopulation and the benefits of obtaining a pet from an approved animal shelter.
• In partnership with shelters, pounds and rescue group, promote adoption and make more available to a broader community.

Dog Attacks

• Streamline the information provided to customers reporting dog attacks to enhance their experience and improve data collection.
• Advocate to the Victorian Government to explore the production of a statewide dog attack database improve the effective management of dogs.
• Review internal systems and data collection to gain data-driven insights into how incidents are occurring.

Nuisances

• Review and update the information available about preventing excessive barking and how to deal with barking dog complaints.

Current and Planned Training

• Identify minimum industry and legislative training requirements via consultation with management and staff. Training to be documented on a register.
• Industry training as available from Animal Welfare Victoria for Officers to attend and complete.
• Officers to develop the ability to prosecute in Court and gain the necessary skills in understanding the prosecution process. To be considered as appropriate.

Registration & Identification

• Improved communications with pet owners, with an additional mid-year notification.
• Improved communication planning and increased efficiency with enforcement processes.
• Ensure all seized and impounded animals are registered to their owner prior to release.
• Investigate the benefits and costs of returning pets to their owners, rather than immediately impounding them on their first offence, when possible.
• Research approaches to improve registration and renewal levels by implementing appropriate initiatives.
• All new registrations from February to be given an additional 2 months free registration due to issuing renewals.
• Monitor and enforce cat curfew.
• Evaluate communication plan with pet owners with a view on compliance.
• Explore the feasibility of a permanent proactive park patrol officer to introduce park patrol targets and increase officer presence in parks.

Nuisance

• Review and evaluate Council’s response to complaints about barking dogs and explore best practice models to inform a
  revised procedure and educative materials.
• Review Councils database in conjunction with City of Yarra’s General Local Law clause 60 which puts permit requirements on
  the amount of pet’s residents can have in a unit/flat and a dwelling.
• Participate in Council and private run events and expos. Provide advertising material and brochures.
• Temporary signage utilised in hotspots regarding responsible pet ownership.
• Update Council’s webpage with links to the Animal Welfare Bureau webpage on cat containment.
• Review existing publications about responsible cat ownership from a range of organisations and providers with the view to making such publications available at Council offices and libraries.
• Review existing nighttime cat curfew to ensure compliance.

Dog Attacks

• Improve public awareness of what a dog attack is and how to report using media articles, website and attendance at the community stall at the Gleadell Street Market and other community events.
• Provide ongoing officer training in relation to public education and feedback to the community.
• Dedicated park patrol targets for all officers.

Dangerous, Menacing and Restricted Breed Dogs

• Conduct unannounced audit inspections of declared Dangerous and Restricted Breed dogs annually to ensure they are identified and being kept in compliance with the Act and Regulations.
• Audit VDDR database.
• Provide relevant feedback and participate with State Government seeking review of legislation.

Overpopulations and High Euthanasia

• Liaise with council’s pound contractor to provided and address, fostering programs and methods to reduce euthanasia rates.

Domestic Animal Businesses

• Identify all businesses that should be registered DABs in the municipality, using social media pages (or similar, including other
  online sites) identify businesses selling pets / pet products / services in the municipality.
• Animal Management Officer to arrange annual inspections to be conducted.

Other Matters

• Review all website, promotional and registration material ensuring its inclusive.
• Ensure animal management staff and resources are available to be able to respond to an emergency event.