Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, every Council in Victoria must develop a Domestic Animal Management Plan every four years. The plan sets out how Council will manage dogs and cats across the municipality, while promoting responsible pet ownership and protecting the safety and amenity of the community.

The draft DAMP details the ways in which Council will manage domestic animals over the next four years. It focuses on supporting and training authorised officers to respond effectively to animal management issues and outlines a strong emphasis on community education to promote responsible pet ownership. The draft DAMP also addresses the importance of pet registration and microchipping, recognising their role in reuniting lost animals with their owners and helping Council plan for animal-related services.

It further considers how Council will respond to nuisance behaviour, such as barking dogs and wandering animals, and sets out actions to reduce the number of unowned or feral cats through trapping and desexing initiatives. Protecting the community from dog attacks on people, pets and livestock is a key focus, as is ensuring that dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are managed in line with legislation. The draft DAMP also explains how Domestic Animal Businesses, such as breeders, boarding kennels and pet shops, will be monitored to ensure compliance with required codes of practice.

Finally, the draft DAMP establishes a framework for annual review and reporting so that progress can be measured, and strategies refined to ensure they remain effective and responsive to community needs.

A copy of Council’s draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 can be downloaded from the Document Library on the right.

It can also be viewed at or obtained from Council’s Customer Service Centre, 1 Bridge Street, Benalla, between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Any person who wishes to make a submission on the draft Benalla Rural City Council Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 can do so by:

• completing our online submission form below;
• sending your submission to Benalla Rural City Council, PO Box 227, Benalla VIC 3672; or
• sending by email to council@benalla.vic.gov.au