A Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) is a strategic framework that local councils are required to develop and review every four years. The plan is designed to address key issues related to domestic animals, such as animal registration and its benefits, managing nuisance animals, preventing dog attacks, and promoting community education on responsible pet ownership and animal behaviour. The DAMP ensures that council's approach to animal management is effective, responsible, and responsive to the needs of the community.

1. Training of Authorised Officers
   Ensures all Authorised Officers are adequately trained to address animal management issues, manage investigations and engage with the community effectively. Focus is on continual professional development and compliance knowledge for all officers.
2. Responsible pet ownership programs
   Promotes education and awareness around pet responsibilities such as desexing, microchipping, registration, and containment. Public event such as pups in parks webinars, seminars and target schools programs to encourage responsible pet ownership.
   
3. Over-population rate and euthanasia rate programs
   Aims to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats through proactive desexing programs, rehoming initiatives, and partnerships with shelters and rescue groups.
4. Registration and Identification
   Focuses on increasing pet registration and microchipping compliance to assist in returning lost pets home to their owners and ensuring public safety.
5. Nuisances
   Addresses community concerns relating to dog litter, dog not under effective control, baking dog and cat containment, desexing, and to reduce nuisance and stray cat numbers.
6. Dog attacks
   Aims to reduce dog attacks within the community through responsible pet ownership, increasing reporting methods, investigating and enforcement approaches.
7. Dangerous, menacing and restricted breed Dogs
   Manages declared and restricted dogs through strict registration, housing, identification, and control measures in line with the Domestic Animals Act.
8. Domestic animal businesses
   Ensures local pet shops, breeders, boarding kennels, and shelters comply with regulations and codes of practice to promote animal welfare.
9. Other matters
   Covers areas beyond the core pillars, allowing flexibility to address emerging issues. This includes council-contracted pounds to reunite pets and support rehoming, the DAMP Advisory Committee for community input and transparency, animal welfare in emergency plans, and support for domestic violence victims through safe pet housing.

We encourage you to read the full draft plan.

Yes, your responses can be anonymous. We only ask demographic questions to help us understand who is participating and to ensure diverse community voices are heard. Please ensure you are not logged in, if you wish to remain anonymous.

No. Decisions about the use and designation of public open spaces, including fenced dog parks, are managed separately and are not part of the Domestic Animal Management Plan.

If you or someone you know would like a printed copy of the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan and survey, they are available at the Customer Service Centres in Nunawading Civic Centre and Box Hill Town Hall.

You can also request a copy by mail by calling Fiona McNeil, Education Officer, Community Laws, at 9262 6394. If you need assistance completing the survey, please contact us - we’re happy to help!