Project Background

Council is excited to share that the new Melton Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2026-2029 is now out.

Pets are an important part of our lives, and the purpose of the DAMP is to provide Council with a framework for identifying and addressing matters associated with the management and wellbeing of cats and dogs over the next four years.

It identifies animal management compliance and education initiatives carried out by Council and new initiatives identified to address emerging issues. It also identifies opportunities for community and Council partnerships to tackle challenges associated with cats and dogs in the community.

Two separate consultations were created. From the first round of consultation Council has now developed the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 which sets out actions to address these challenges. It also highlights the need to keep improving our services to meet legal requirements and community expectations. Our approach focuses on grassroots change—shaping community values, encouraging responsible pet ownership, and building strong partnerships. From this a second consultation, the draft DAMP was shared to get further feedback.

Community Consultation Summary

The draft DAMP was shared to the community from the 28 October to 10 November 2025. A short survey was available on this page for the community to review and provide their feedback about the plan. There were 14 responses in total. Below is a short summary of the second consultation.

  • If people have read the Draft plan
  • Feedback about proposed actions
  • Parts of the plan that could be improved
  • Further feedback and suggestions

THEMES

  • Provide more available discounted desexing
  • Management of stray cats
  • Control of dogs, attacks, nuisance complaints
  • Improve animal pound facilities

The final Plan is now out
What we are working towards...

  • Identified 20 recommendations to address throughout the life of the plan
  • Explore more desexing opportunities
  • Undertake a feasibility study on our pound facility
  • Providing further education around responsible pet ownership to minimise dog attacks and nuisance complaints

We know pets bring joy, companionship, and health benefits—especially dogs, whose owners often connect with others while walking. This understanding helped guide the actions in the draft plan.

Through this process, we have identified some key challenges:

Council is exploring further opportunities to offer discounted de-sexing services for cats within our community. This initiative aims to support responsible pet ownership and reduce stray animal populations.

To strengthen our efforts, we are also working to improve Council’s customer enquiry data collection procedures. Enhancing the quality of the information we gather will help us identify areas experiencing higher levels of concern, allowing us to collaborate more effectively with local residents on education and compliance.

Council is committed to creating more opportunities to work alongside our community to promote responsible dog ownership.

Our focus includes:

  • Reducing the number of dog attacks
  • Improving compliance with dog leashing regulations
  • Ensuring dogs are securely confined at home

Council is committed to ensuring that pound and shelter services meet the needs of our community.

We’ll be investigating a range of service models to understand which approach delivers the best outcomes for:

  • Community wellbeing – supporting both pets and people
  • Cultural and social needs – reflecting our community’s values
  • Economic sustainability – ensuring services are secure and viable

As part of this work, Council will complete a Pound and Shelter Feasibility Study during the term of this Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP). This will guide the development of a clear action plan for how these services will be delivered across the city.