Draft 2025-29 Domestic Animal Management Plan

Domestic animals play an integral role in the day to day lives of many in the Northern Grampians Shire community. Council recognises the importance of promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare while protecting the community and our environment, ensuring that pets, their owners and non-pet owners can comfortably coexist in the community.

The Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) is a statutory requirement for all Victorian councils prescribed by the Domestic Animals Act 1994. It is intended to provide the Northern Grampians Shire Council with a management plan for dogs, cats and domestic animal businesses in our shire. It achieves this through the provision of a strategic framework that coordinates policy direction and action plans for animal management over the next four years. 

Council is inviting community feedback on the draft plan, which can be reviewed via the flipbook below or alternatively downloaded as a PDF. Any person wishing to make a feedback submission must do so in writing by 11.59pm on Sunday, October 19, 2025 via one of the outlined options. 

All submissions will be reviewed by council. Amendments to the draft plan may be made in response to feedback where appropriate, however not all submissions will result in changes as council must balance a wide range of views, priorities and statutory responsibilities. The DAMP is then scheduled to be endorsed by councillors at a council meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025. 

Make a submission

Submissions must be made in writing by either direct mail or via email. 

Direct mail: closed. 

Online: closed.

Review the draft plan

The DAMP aims to:

  • Document current processes under council’s animal management responsibilities.
  • Increase pet owners’ knowledge of the principles of responsible pet ownership and enhance community safety and awareness.
  • Strengthen relationships with animal rescue groups, vets and other relevant services to respond to crisis situations and assist in rehoming animals.
  • Reduce the number of dog attacks.
  • Balance the needs of those who own pets and those who do not.
  • Decrease the numbers of dogs and cats being euthanized.
  • Maximise the numbers of dogs and cats that are registered across the municipality.
  • Minimise the harmful effect of domestic pets on the population of native birds, mammals and reptiles.
  • Take community views on animal management matters into account.
  • Comply with the relevant provisions of the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

Find out more by reviewing the material via the flipbook below or by downloading a PDF file. A printed copy can also be found at our Customer Service offices in Stawell and St Arnaud.

Have a question?

If you have a question about the above material or would like to speak with someone about it, please contact our Customer Service team on (03) 5358 8700 or by emailing ngshire@ngshire.vic.gov.au.

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