Background

Earlier this year we asked what concerns you had about domestic animals (pets) and the way owners manage them in your local area. We also asked you which of 11 services were most important to you.

We heard from 393 people and had one emailed submission. We took your feedback and developed a draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2026–2029. This plan outlines how Council will manage cats and dogs across the municipality over the next four years.

The plan aims to encourage things like:

  • Being a responsible pet owner
  • Keeping people and pets safe
  • Making sure pets are registered.

  • Addressing expectations of owners:

    • Being clear about what 'effective control' of a dog means
    • Developing a program to educate community about the legal responsibilities and requirements of keeping guard dogs.

  • Encouraging responsible pet ownership:

    • Holding a Hume City Pet Expo in 2028 to promote responsible pet ownership and advance animal welfare
    • Addressing the increase in unregistered pets by offering free initial pet registration to support and encourage first-time registrations
    • Exploring the feasibility of a cat curfew.

  • Address stray and abandoned cat issue:

    • Researching barriers to desexing and consider making desexing a requirement
    • Collaborating with relevant groups and providers to offer subsidised desexing programs and vouchers for low-income pet owners.

  • Improve access to animal welfare and support:

    • Investigating how to help pet owners affected by family violence
    • Carrying out a feasibility study into having a local animal shelter.


How to participate

Your feedback on what you like and what you think is missing will help shape the final Plan.

You can read the draft and share your thoughts in the form below until Thursday 13 November 2025.