SOUTH Gippsland Shire residents are keen to have their say on the future of domestic animal management in their area, with just over 300 survey responses already received.
As previously reported in the Sentinel-Times, people are encouraged to contribute their ideas towards the development of a new four-year draft Domestic Animal Management Plan.
Once finalised, the plan will provide council with a strategic approach to the promotion of responsible pet ownership, balancing the needs of both pet owners and those without pets in the community.
The survey can be completed online, or in hard copy form.
Council listening posts have been held in Foster, Mirboo North, Leongatha and Korumburra, enabling locals to learn more about council’s broad ideas on domestic animal management and how they can have their say.
Cindy Stubbs, of Stubbs Consulting, is working with South Gippsland Shire Council on the Domestic Animal Management Plan and braved Leongatha’s chilly Tuesday morning wind at a listening post established outside the Memorial Hall.
She said one of the key animal management topics is the possibility of some form of cat confinement order, which could apply only at night or be on a 24-hour basis.
While physical meeting posts to discuss such issues have concluded, there is still an opportunity for discussion.
An online workshop is taking place this Thursday September 8 from 7pm until 8pm, with the session operating as a ‘virtual’ meeting post.
“We’ll be having a chat about what responsible pet ownership looks like, any issues or concerns people might have, and their thoughts on potential items that may or may not end up in the Domestic Animal Management Plan,” Cindy said.
Along with the potential implementation of some form of cat confinement, council is also considering dog ‘on leash’ orders and ‘off leash’ areas, with community members urged to provide their thoughts on that and other animal management issues.
Local laws are among the responsibilities of council’s manager of Community Health and Safety, Lyndal Peterson, who was also at the Leongatha listening post.
She said that while people love their pets and see them as part of the family, there is a need for domestic animal management to protect the environment.
People also need to be able to go for a walk without being impacted by other people’s dogs, Lyndal said.
To have your say on domestic animal management, make sure you complete the survey by September 11.
Residents who do so have the option to go into a draw to win a hamper of local produce to the value of $200.
Visit yoursay.southgippsland.vic.gov.au to complete the survey and to register for the online workshop.
