Thank you for sharing your thoughts in the first phase of Community Engagement for our Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) .

The valuable feedback will now be reviewed, along with the outcomes of a review of the current DAMP.

This will be used to inform the new draft documents which will be open to feedback from the community later in the year.

Follow this page (click on the button below) to stay updated on this project

We all love our animals in Yarra Ranges.

The mix of urban and rural areas across Yarra Ranges means we have pets and animals of all shapes and sizes. While dogs and cats are an important part of our families and community, we also have an abundance of native animals and sensitive environments in our parks, bushland and waterways that must be cared for.

Our Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) outlines how we can keep our community safe, encourage responsible pet ownership and look after the wellbeing and management of cats and dogs in Yarra Ranges.

We’re reviewing the DAMP to make sure it reflects the community’s priorities and experiences.

Project background

The current DAMP focuses on the following key themes:

To ensure staff have appropriate knowledge and skills to deliver services in line with current and emerging service requirements. This ensures our staff have the expertise to respond to service demands professionally and proactively.

To ensure the pet-owning community understand their responsibilities, ensuring people and pets live in harmony with each other, the community and the environment.

To minimise the risk of dog rushes and attacks through education and community support. This ensures a safe environment for everyone, including pets.

To minimise the number of strays, abandoned and unwanted pets. This improves outcomes for pets and those working in the animal welfare sector.

To increase cat and dog registrations to ensure Council has the necessary information to identify and reunite pets with their owners and appropriately meet service demand.

To minimise incidents that cause animal-related complaints. This enhances neighbourhood amenity and the health and wellbeing of pets and native animals.

To minimise the prevalence of, and ensure the correct management and control of, dangerous, menacing, and restricted breed dogs. This minimises community risk and ensures these dogs are kept in accordance with regulations.

Actions from the current DAMP have led to:

Phase 1 Consultation

Take part in a short survey, or attend a drop-in or online session, and let us know what you think is working well, where there are gaps or emerging issues and how Council can best support safe, responsible dog and cat ownership over the next three years.

Come and talk to us to learn more, and have your say!

Key Stages

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Initial engagement (Stage 1)

    Checking in on the DAMP progress; March - April 2026

  • Timeline item 2 - active

    Community feedback considered and relevant changes made

    Data from the survey, along with the outcomes of a review of the current DAMP, will be used to inform the new draft DAMP.

  • Timeline item 3 - incomplete

    Draft Plan out for community feedback (Stage 2)

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    2026- 2029 DAMP considered by Council

Contact Us

If you have any questions or want to learn more about this project, our contact details are below:

Contact Information
Name Community Wellbeing Team
Phone 1300 368 333
Email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
In writing

Att: Community Wellbeing Team

Re: 2026 DAMP engagement

PO Box 105, Lilydale Vic 3140

If you need assistance when contacting Council, please use the numbers below.

National Relay Service: 133 677 (for callers who have a hearing, speech or communication impairment and for Text Telephone or modem callers)

1300 555 727 (for callers using Speech to Speech relay)

Translating and Interpreting Service: 131 450

TTY: 9658 9461