Responsible Pet Ownership

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Cats and dogs have significant social and health benefits for their owners. Pets teach responsibility to children, give love, comfort and companionship to their owners and provide security, particularly for older people and those who live alone.

Southern Grampians Shire Council is committed to encouraging responsible pet ownership to benefit the whole community, as well as the welfare of the pets. Below are some hints to help you get the most out of your pets:

Dogs

  • Implement early behavioural training of your dog to influence traits such as: Noise reduction (reduce potential of unwarranted barking); Reinforcing your dog's territorial boundaries; Increasing your dog's socialisation skills to reduce potential acts of aggression
  • Exercise daily: Your dog should be exercised for at least half an hour per day. In most cases this can best be achieved by taking your dog for a walk on a lead
  • Restrain your dog from roaming free outside of the safety of your property
  • Ensure adequate secure perimeter fencing surrounds your property to keep your dog in
  • Clean up after your pet has toilet breaks within your property and in public places

Cats

  • Keep cats secured in catteries
  • Contain cats, particularly at night, in order to restrict roaming outside its place of residence which can lead to potential nuisance complaints being lodged with Council
  • House training - placement of kitty litter, and provision of readily available food sources, including water
  • Cats should wear a collar with name, address where it resides and the owner's contact number
  • Cats should have a bell attached to their collar to assist in reducing predation of birdlife
 

Animal Welfare

As a cat or dog owner, you have a responsibility to look after your cat or dog's basic welfare needs, including:

 

  • Provide your cat or dog with an appropriate balanced diet and clean, cool water at all times
  • Ensure that your cat or dog has adequate shelter suitable for all weather conditions
  • Ensure that your cat or dog is well socialised, trained and exercised
  • Ensure your cat or dog's good health with regular veterinary check-ups, worming, tick and flea treatments
  • If you are not going to breed from your cat or dog, you are strongly encouraged to have it de-sexed (permanently sterilised) to prevent unwanted litters

 

Cat Curfew

Our Shire has a cat curfew between sunset and sunrise, so please keep your cats inside during this time to keep them safe and to help protect nocturnal wildlife.

 

Fines may apply to owners of cats found at large, or trapped during these hours by Local Laws Officers.

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