Draft Dog and Cat Management Plan 2022 - 2027

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Consultation has concluded


What is a Dog and Cat Management Plan and why do we need one?

The Dog and Cat Management Plan is a requirement under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995. All councils are required to prepare a 5-year plan relating to the management of dogs and cats within its council area.

The Plan will replace our 2017 - 2022 Dog and Cat Management Plan and will focus on our community's priorities, our Community Plan 2030 objectives and our Dog By-law 5, while incorporating legislative responsibilities for dog and cat ownership. 

In line with Council's vision of 'Committed to being the best place to live, work and enjoy life', the main focus of this Plan is to continue to address the immediate safety of our community and promote responsible pet ownership, while ensuring legislation is adhered to and in alignment with the strategic objectives of our Community Plan.

The objectives contained in this Plan have been informed by Council's dog and cat management feedback data, the requirements of the Act and feedback received from community consultation. 

These objectives will guide the direction for the management of dogs and cats during the next 5 years and address issues including:

  • Community education and compliance.
  • Responsible pet ownership.
  • Dogs off-lead.
  • Dog faeces management.
  • Dog parks.
  • Dog socialisation.
  • Greyhound events.
  • Mandatory microchipping and desexing of dogs and cats.
  • Feral or unowned cat control.
  • Cat containment.




Development of our plan

The Dog and Cat Management Plan 2023 - 2028 builds upon the success of our previous Plan and is informed by:

  • Local complaints data on dog attacks and harassment, dogs wandering at large and barking dogs etc.
  • DACO data on registrations, desexing and microchipping of dogs.
  • Local complaints of cats causing a nuisance.
  • The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017.
  • The City of West Torrens By-law 5 - Dogs.
  • Community consultation (as detailed below).
    To assist with the development of this Plan, community consultation was undertaken via Council's Your Say platform from 9 March to 1 April 2022. This valuable feedback has provided us with an overview of our local community's main concerns, which we can address long-term. Consultation findings can be found later in this document.




View documents 



How to have your say

Let us know your thoughts about the Draft Dog and Cat Management Plan 2022 - 2027 by using any of the following:

  • Online
    Use the online feedback form at the bottom of this page.

  • Post
    Complete the 
    downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and mail to:
    'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'
    City of West Torrens
    165 Sir Donald Bradman Drive
    Hilton 5033

  • Email
    Complete the 
    downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and email info@wtcc.sa.gov.au with the subject heading 'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'.

All responses must be received by 5pm Monday 12 December 2022




Additional information
 

If you would like to discuss the Dog and Cat Management Plan or have any questions, please contact our Senior Community Safety Officer on (08) 8416 6333 or email info@wtcc.sa.gov.au


Council’s use of personal information 

Please note that the City of West Torrens is a public authority which is bound by the Local Government Act 1999, and other relevant legislation, to retain information and to make certain information publicly available. In some instances, this will require Council to publish personal information such as names and addresses of those whose information it holds. If you have any questions regarding the use of your personal information please contact Council on (08) 8416 6333.



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What is a Dog and Cat Management Plan and why do we need one?

The Dog and Cat Management Plan is a requirement under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995. All councils are required to prepare a 5-year plan relating to the management of dogs and cats within its council area.

The Plan will replace our 2017 - 2022 Dog and Cat Management Plan and will focus on our community's priorities, our Community Plan 2030 objectives and our Dog By-law 5, while incorporating legislative responsibilities for dog and cat ownership. 

In line with Council's vision of 'Committed to being the best place to live, work and enjoy life', the main focus of this Plan is to continue to address the immediate safety of our community and promote responsible pet ownership, while ensuring legislation is adhered to and in alignment with the strategic objectives of our Community Plan.

The objectives contained in this Plan have been informed by Council's dog and cat management feedback data, the requirements of the Act and feedback received from community consultation. 

These objectives will guide the direction for the management of dogs and cats during the next 5 years and address issues including:

  • Community education and compliance.
  • Responsible pet ownership.
  • Dogs off-lead.
  • Dog faeces management.
  • Dog parks.
  • Dog socialisation.
  • Greyhound events.
  • Mandatory microchipping and desexing of dogs and cats.
  • Feral or unowned cat control.
  • Cat containment.




Development of our plan

The Dog and Cat Management Plan 2023 - 2028 builds upon the success of our previous Plan and is informed by:

  • Local complaints data on dog attacks and harassment, dogs wandering at large and barking dogs etc.
  • DACO data on registrations, desexing and microchipping of dogs.
  • Local complaints of cats causing a nuisance.
  • The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017.
  • The City of West Torrens By-law 5 - Dogs.
  • Community consultation (as detailed below).
    To assist with the development of this Plan, community consultation was undertaken via Council's Your Say platform from 9 March to 1 April 2022. This valuable feedback has provided us with an overview of our local community's main concerns, which we can address long-term. Consultation findings can be found later in this document.




View documents 



How to have your say

Let us know your thoughts about the Draft Dog and Cat Management Plan 2022 - 2027 by using any of the following:

  • Online
    Use the online feedback form at the bottom of this page.

  • Post
    Complete the 
    downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and mail to:
    'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'
    City of West Torrens
    165 Sir Donald Bradman Drive
    Hilton 5033

  • Email
    Complete the 
    downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and email info@wtcc.sa.gov.au with the subject heading 'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'.

All responses must be received by 5pm Monday 12 December 2022




Additional information
 

If you would like to discuss the Dog and Cat Management Plan or have any questions, please contact our Senior Community Safety Officer on (08) 8416 6333 or email info@wtcc.sa.gov.au


Council’s use of personal information 

Please note that the City of West Torrens is a public authority which is bound by the Local Government Act 1999, and other relevant legislation, to retain information and to make certain information publicly available. In some instances, this will require Council to publish personal information such as names and addresses of those whose information it holds. If you have any questions regarding the use of your personal information please contact Council on (08) 8416 6333.



Join the conversation today
Create an account or login to share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.



Register
Login



Consultation has concluded

  • Dogs and Cats in West Torrens Initial consultation

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    Update: The City of West Torrens Draft Dog and Cat Management Plan is currently being developed. It will be released for public consultation in the coming months.



    Initial consultation



    Results

    We are currently developing a new Dog and Cat Management Plan and we sought general community feedback in March to garner community sentiment about a number of topics relating to cats and dogs.

    As expected, people are passionate about their furry friends and nearly 1,000 people visited our consultation site, with a further 664 providing feedback.

    Feedback has helped us develop a Draft Dog and Cat Management Plan. After it is fine-tuned and finalised, we will release the draft for further community comment. This is scheduled for December so, keep an eye on our Your Say page for updates.




    Let us know your thoughts about dogs, cats, off-lead areas and more so we can create a Dog and Cat Management Plan which reflects the community's needs!

    The City of West Torrens is currently developing a new Dog and Cat Management Plan (the Plan) and are seeking your feedback to ensure the Plan remains relevant for the community and, in doing so supports a City where people want to live, work and enjoy life.

    Before a Draft Plan is developed, we are seeking initial public opinion on Dogs and Cats in West Torrens. which will then help guide any changes we may make.


    What is a Dog and Cat Management Plan?

    Council's Dog and Cat Management Plan (2017 - 2022) provides a summary of how we have been progressing the control and well-being of our domestic animals in West Torrens. The plan also outlines how we will address Council's responsibilities when it comes to changes in the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.



    Why do we have a plan?

    The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires all South Australian councils to prepare a five year Dog and Cat Management Plan for their area. A new plan is required to replace the 2012 - 2017 Animal Management Plan.

    The main focus of the Plan is to address the immediate need to implement the changes to the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 throughout 2017 and 2018, supporting the community with a smooth and informed transition. We aim to do this by:

    • proactive communication and education strategies
    • implementing short term actions to alleviate immediate impacts
    • setting realistic, long term actions to address the causes of problems
    • committing to measurable activities
    • taking a whole-of-Council approach with actions identified from across Council
    • prioritising actions to support local community needs.




    View documents



    How to have your say

    Let us know your thoughts about dogs and cats in West Torrens by using any of the following:

    • Online
      Use the online feedback form at the bottom of this page.

    • Post
      Complete the downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and mail to:
      'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'
      City of West Torrens
      165 Sir Donald Bradman Drive
      Hilton 5033

    • Email
      Complete the downloadable feedback form or prepare a written submission (including your name and residential address) and email csu@wtcc.sa.gov.au with the subject heading 'Dogs and Cats in West Torrens submission'.

    All responses must be received by 5pm Friday 1 April 2022.




    Additional information

    If you would like to discuss the Dog and Cat Management Plan or have any questions, please contact our Senior Community Safety Officer on (08) 8416 6333 or email csu@wtcc.sa.gov.au


    Council’s use of personal information

    Please note that the City of West Torrens is a public authority which is bound by the Local Government Act 1999, and other relevant legislation, to retain information and to make certain information publicly available. In some instances, this will require Council to publish personal information such as names and addresses of those whose information it holds. If you have any questions regarding the use of your personal information please contact Council on (08) 8416 6333.