Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all Victorian councils are required to develop a Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) every four years.

Between April and August 2025, we invited the community to share their thoughts on how domestic animals are managed across the municipality. This feedback helped shape the development of the City of Melbourne’s Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026–2029.

The consultation was delivered in two phases:

  • Phase 1 (April–June): we asked the community to tell us what matters most when it comes to managing domestic animals in Melbourne. This included topics such as pet registration, cat management, dog behaviour, and the role of domestic animal businesses.
  • Phase 2 (July–August): we returned to the community with a draft plan that outlined proposed actions and priorities. We asked for feedback to ensure the plan reflected community values and addressed key concerns.

The plan sets out how we will manage:

  • training of Authorised Officers
  • pet registration and identification
  • cat management
  • nuisance issues, such as barking dogs
  • dog attacks
  • dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs
  • domestic animal businesses

Community feedback helped shape the plan’s objectives and targets, with a focus on promoting animal welfare and reducing the negative impacts cats and dogs can have on people and the environment.

Community consultation

Feedback we heard on the Domestic Animal Management Plan.

News

Follow this page to receive updates.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Community Consultation – Phase One

    Thursday 3 April – Tuesday 29 April 2025

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Consultation summary report shared with community

    Mid-2025

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan endorsed by Future Melbourne Committee (FMC)

    1 July 2025

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Community Consultation – Phase Two: Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan

    7 July – 4 August 2025

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Final draft presented to FMC for endorsement

    September 2025

Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29

Find out more about the draft DAMP.

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about the project?