ACTION PLAN We will seek to address the following issues over the next four years of our plan: Issue 1: Dogs in public places Issue 2: Dog poo Issue 3: Dogs in coastal areas Issue 4: Dog attacks and public safety Issue 5: Dangerous dogs and restricted dog breeds Issue 6: Open space needs Issue 7: Animal identification and lost animals Issue 8: Animal desexing Issue 9: Conservation zones Issue 10: Dog parks Issue 11: Our animal management team Issue 12: Nuisance cats and dogs Issue 13: Licensing and animal welfare Issue 14: Responsible pet ownership Issue 15: Pets in emergencies For each issue, we have provided a summary of: What we currently do to address the issue. These actions will be ongoing throughout the 2018–21 period. A summary of community views about the issue. We believe it is important to reflect the views of those that took the time to contribute to our consultation. We are limited by legislation and resources, so we cannot necessarily address every issue raised. New actions planned for 2018–21. These new actions will be carried out in addition to those listed in the first column. PROGRESS AND REPORTING We review our plan annually, presenting it to Council and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. A summary is also included in our annual report. Successful implementation of the plan should result in the following outcomes: 3 The City is regarded as a trusted, knowledgeable resource for pet owners, providing proactive advice to residents. 3 A simple and clear process to register your pet through multiple channels. 3 Responsible pet owners are able to own a pet without undue restrictions. 3 Geelong residents’ quality of life is not negatively impacted by irresponsible owners. 3 Residents select the most suitable pet and breed for their particular circumstance. 3 Harm to wildlife by dogs and cats is minimised. 3 Fair and equitable shared use of beaches and open spaces is practiced. We’re changing the way that we measure and report our results to provide clear information on our progress. We’ll measure performance through: the number of dogs and cats that are registered. the percentage of animals that are impounded*. the percentage of irresponsible animal management complaints*. the number of school and community education sessions. Calculated by dividing the number of complaints or impounded animals by the total number of registered animals
ISSUE 3: DOGS IN COASTAL AREAS Dog control orders in coastal areas exist to support the fair use of coastline for all, including dogs. Most coastal areas contain areas of high environmental significance, such as sand dunes and wetlands, and they are important to wildlife. The broad range of views expressed during our community consultation process shows that the issue of dogs on beaches remains a contentious issue. See page 5 for more information about the management of local dog control orders in coastal areas. WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO COMMUNITY VIEWS NEW ACTIONS FOR Patrol coastal areas and monitor compliance with dog control orders, where necessary. Provide guides and maps to help dog owners understand their responsibilities in coastal areas. Encourage owners to comply with dog control orders with: more regular patrols, including covert ones CCTV more enforcement information for tourists and in caravan parks better signs that make restrictions clear. Make rules about dogs on beaches the same as adjoining municipalities. Recognise that walking dogs on the foreshore is part of the beachside lifestyle. Use volunteers from local walking groups to hand out poo bags and provide advice. Bring in year-round, dog-free beaches, with some designated dog beaches. Make it clear who manages coastal areas. Do not allow dogs into the Portarlington Caravan Park. Check is there is an issue before you make changes. Implement a seasonal plan – not a whole-of-year plan. Don’t make it easier for people to have dogs off-leash in summer, when young families are around. Prepare new dog control orders for all City- managed coastal areas, as part of the Dogs in Public Places Policy review. Work in partnership with coastal management committees to develop new local dog control orders for their designated areas in line with community expectations. Educate the community about any changes to dog control orders in coastal areas, by updating maps and signs. Work with dog walking and community groups to monitor whether dog owners are complying with the orders. Distribute dog walking maps through tourism agencies.
Attend to all dog attack reports immediately, or as soon as possible, and implement appropriate action. Record and investigate all dog attacks. Seize dogs and prosecute matters, where necessary. Maintain a database of every animal that has attacked people, pets, wildlife, and livestock. Conduct inspections of properties where dogs have been confined by Magistrate orders. Increase education and familiarity with dogs for non-dog owners. Increase enforcement. Implement heavier fines. Provide better facilities for dogs to socialise. Keep all dangerous dogs muzzled and on- leash. Dogs should be kept on lead at all times in busy, public places. Encourage desexing. Provide subsidised classes on dog training. Prosecute the owners of dogs that attack other dogs, or people. Develop resources for owners about dog attack prevention and what is ‘effective control’. Hold animal behaviour seminars and dog training classes. Encourage the community to report to us if dogs rush at them or their animals, with the aim of preventing future acts of aggression. Upgrade our database to provide more accurate data related to dog attack severity and cause. Collate data on dog attacks from local vets, hospital and doctors to assess trends in dog bite incidents. Increase patrols at key locations, and alternate between a random and routine schedule.