Councils help to ensure responsible pet ownership, and also manage nuisance and pest animals on public land. Local laws officers respond to a range of animal and pet concerns including collection of stray animals and investigation of complaints about animals.

Services provided by councils include:

• Pet ownership: pet registration, off-lead areas and disposal bags, permits for keeping animals, micro chipping days
• Animal shelters: pet adoption and reuniting lost pets with owners
• Livestock permits
• Control of pests and nuisance animals
• Registering and monitoring of pet breeding businesses
• Investigation of barking dogs, dog attacks and other animal complaints.

Under the provisions of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (the Act) all councils in Victoria have developed a domestic animal management plan which is renewed every 4 years.

This plan outlines the council's:

• services
• programs and policies established to address the administration of the Act
• management of dog and cat issues in their community.

The Local Government Act 1989 requires councils to maintain a website that lists its public notices and documents, including their domestic animal management plan.

Find your local Council website and contact details.

Learn more about

• Animal Welfare Victoria
• What to do if you have a barking dog complaint.