Domestic Animal Management Plan 2021-2025

I agree that cats should be restricted to owners properties at all times. Others should not have to put up with cats pooing in their vegetable garden. This is a yuk, smell and health issue. If there are cats in my garden there are no blue wrens, my quality of life and enjoyment of my garden is very much affected negatively if cats are semi resident.
There defiantly needs to be more enforcement of dog rules. Some areas of some reserves seem to be dog toilets. Also the increased nutrients from dog poos kills native plants and increases weed levels in bushland areas. I do not care if dogs are on or off lead. I care if they are under control and being supervised and there poo is picked up.

The 24/7 cat curfew appears to be another heavy-handed response from Manningham Council which rather than seeking a sensible compromise serves to punish the responsible pet owners and their pets. Whilst I support a night-time cat curfew, I consider a 24-hour curfew over the top and detrimental to the health and well-being of many cats. Since most hunting of wildlife occurs during night hours having a daytime ban as well does indeed seem an unnecessary and cruel response. I am at a loss as to why the council sees fit to go from nothing to a total ban. If a trial is to be done, surely a limited curfew makes more sense and is more likely to be adhered to.
I would also like to ask where is the concern for wildlife when it comes to the destruction of their habitat due to the constant approval of major developments? This seems completely hypocritical. I believe that the introduction of such a scheme will lead to more unregistered and unchipped animals, in an attempt to avoid punishment. Yet again it will be those trying to do the right thing who will suffer.
I am also concerned that the council is ultimately seeking to remove some of the current off-lead facilities for dogs. The plan states that it will review existing dog off lead areas including parks, reserves etc to ensure suitability of sites and facilities provided. I would like to see more information on this proposal as it currently looks as though it gives the council carte blanche to make the changes it wishes in 2024, without further consultation. There are currently very few off-lead provisions and if anything, I would like to see more areas where it is possible to walk with my well-trained dogs off lead. Having more off-lead areas will actually reduce the density off dogs off-lead by providing more choice of places to go.
Only having access to small fenced-in areas for dogs to be off lead is a very poor idea. It is likely to result in more dog attacks, not less, since it creates a very unnatural setting where all dogs are expected to get on with each other and play in a confined area. My concern is that some owners will be less vigilant of their dogs in such areas, again leading to more incidents. There is an abundance of areas that are already on lead only or that don’t allow dogs at all, so please don’t deprive us of the few areas that we have.
I am fully in favour of providing more dog bins around the area and believe this can only assist with ensuring that people pick up after their dogs. Westerfolds Park currently has none and would benefit greatly from a bin or two, so that we are not required to take bags of poo in the car with us.
I am also all in favour of better animal education and training, but I believe the improved education should be extended to non-pet owners. Those that appear scared of dogs and walk in off-lead areas often unwittingly behave in ways that attract dogs more. In addition to owners having better control of their dogs, non-dog owners who choose to walk in off-lead areas need to have better tolerance and understanding of how their actions lead to unwanted attention.

Only one new dog off-leash area? Not enough. Sadly ignores needs of dog owners and dogs to have more such areas especially as existing off-leash areas are being encroached on by other activities. The recent addition of ParkRun along the river in Warrandyte where dogs are off-leash highlights the lack of Council understanding of how much these amenities are used at all times of day. The addition of a PArkRun along the river in Warrandyte has made the area less peaceful for everyone .

I completely disagree with 24/7 cat curfew. Cats have roamed manningham for many years and have done so happily without destroying all wildlife. The only factor that is having a u impact on wildlife is urban density/ humans. How much parkland is being destroyed by the northwest link? How many trees were destroyed to make way for Tullamore Estate? How many wildlife had been impacted by that?
If you impose a cat curfew, I don’t see the need for cat registration ( how would you justify cat owner to pay if it confined) Is the council happy to relinquish that revenue?
This is an over zealous rule for cats living in a urban dense council like manningham. Just copying other councils ! No common sense!

I think a council that refuses to let unvaxxinated people use libraries have demonstrated that they do not understand health management or community needs or apartheid. So already I distrust the council's competence with animal management.
We all know that Manningham has a diverse landscape and that a single approach to the cat issue will never suffice. Areas with farm lifestock and natural bushland will of course have rat populations for which cats are essential to control.
Manningham is foolish to propose a plan without factoring in their own neighbourhood zones. Who is paying these people?! Oh, we are.

It looks to me like most people haven't read the document before commenting. The cat curfew only restricts cars to their owners property. This is just good ownership would you let your dog roam off your property? I fully support a cat curfew in Manningham.

Does the 24/7 cat confinement rule apply to outbuildings such as stables, haysheds ect.? Using poisons to eradicate vermin is also a risk to wildlife. My cat is a house cat but does spend time in the hayshed and stables doing an amazing job at keeping them vermin free. And may I add the hayshed has a resident blue tongue lizard who has remained untouched by the cat.

Do support a 24 hour lock up for cats. It is a wildlife must.

I'm not a cat owner, but I believe a 247 cat curfew is over the top and cruel. Cats don't generally hunt in the day (hunting mostly occurs and dawn and dusk, I believe) - so a night curfew would be fine - or have cats wear bells if that's the concern. If cats were to be kept inside 247 they would be similar to rabbits and hamsters - so would cat registration no longer be needed? I feel as though the community has agreed to compromise with a night curfew, but council has put it in the too hard basket to regulate, so just slapped on a 247 ban as an easy out. My kids and I go for a walk every day to say hi to a local cat and we'd be devastated if we no longer could as he was locked up.

We love Manningham because we get to explore so many local parks with our dog. We had noticed an increase in dog waste since the start of Covid. Due to many people getting pets in lockdown or being home and thus more likely to take them out, I think a lack of education would be a big driver for this. Also, there are not many bins around and free bags at park entrances would be fantastic. There will always be an odd dog who is not fully under control, but they are an absolute exception and I feel to punish all the dogs and their owners who do the right thing, is unfair. Please do not take away the few off lead areas we do have. If people want to take walks where there are no dogs / dogs on lead - they have plenty of places to choose from!!! Also, many dog owners don't feel comfortable having their dogs in designated fenced off areas, as it's more prone to people who don't have control over their dog (they feel it's fenced, so that's where their responsibility ends) - so please don't limit us to use only fenced off areas.

I think all in all we can't just create rules for all animals based on the lowest common denominator. Dog and cat owners pay registration fees and that money should be used to enforce the rules we have. Let the rule breakers be fined and limit their animals' rights - but please don't take it away from all the good boys and girls who are doing the right thing and aren't a nuisance.

I agree with those who have expressed concerns about the 24 hour cat curfew within the council. This is an over-the-top response that goes beyond what we as a community had suggested during previous consultations, and will have negative impacts on our pets, and our community. Keeping a cat locked for 24 hours a day negatively impacts their mood, and their physical well-being, and is cruel and unusual punishment.

I want our native wildlife to be safe, and so I support a night-time curfew, like we had proposed within the initial consultation. Please be reasonable.

In looking to implement 24 hour cat confinement we (the community) need to be mindful that we might think we are addressing one issue when we are really creating another issue. Cats are very effective and efficient "rat catchers". In every location where humans live as a community, there will be a population of rats living off the "easy pickings" of food provided through human settlement. Manningham is full of rat families. Cats roaming at night have the capabilty for keeping the rat population in check. Lock cats up at night and the Council will be fielding an avalanche of rate payer complaints about a plague of rats.

The 24/7 cat confinement is over the top and cruel.

It's good that Manningham look at this every 4 years. I see that both cat and dog registrations have decreased over the past several years. Maybe registration fees are unaffordable to a lot of people.
I think that a booklet should be sent out with initial registration. And perhaps a leaflet with renewals.
I think dog owners need to be aware of responsiblities in off-lead areas.
I think that more waste bins are needed. And dog watering stations.
I think that officers need be practical eg it's hard to pick up dog diarrhea. And carry dog bags themselves. And be able to give warnings rather than fines.

Absolutely amazing proposal for a 24/7 cat curfew. Too many times I see magpies being stalked by cats whilst they are foraging for food or sunbathing on my property. Pet owners are selfish to think their prowling cats should be tolerated in neighbourhoods that are adjacent to reserves and parklands which are the rightful habitats for wildlife. Pet owners, take responsibility and provide for the needs of your pets on your own property.

A 24 hour cat curfew is cruel to cats that have been free to enjoy the sunshine and running around in the backyard. Obviously, occasionally they jump the fence and explore, then come home again and lay around in the yard.

Ourc cat comes inside to use her litter tray, then goes outside again. If I am honest, I would have preferred if she went in the garden most times, but she has been doing this for years.

I set a night curfew on my cat, as she must be indoors for dinner at 6, and she is not allowed out until 7 am.

I totally agree with night time curfews, but daytime curfews are a no go for a number of reasons, including my cat’s health.

I am all for it as we had so many complaints from residents about cats and dogs did their business in the common car park area. It was difficult to identify them and owners didn't come forward to clean up.

I’m so relieved to hear of the 24/7 cat curfew! Thank you Manningham Council! Quite simply, I don’t like my yard smelling of cat poo and cat wee and I certainly don’t like finding cat poo in my herb and veggie patch where my kids play!

Dogs off lead should only be in a fenced, controlled area where dogs can’t attack the public or wildlife.

It’s impossible to go for a peaceful walk around Ruffey Lake these days without a dog jumping on me or on my small child and the owner thinking “it’s cute”.

We would also desperately love to walk along the river at Warrandyte but dog owners here are notorious for hogging the paths. Dogs off lead are often out of control with no recall when they chase ducks OR owners find no need to call the dog if they chase wildlife or young children! This riverwalk should not be an off lead area given all the wildlife here.

I fully endorse and support the feedback provided by “concerned citizen” 2 days ago.

In addition to this, I feel as part of your engagement and assessment process, Manningham Council needs to be more considerate of the well-being and basic rights of older cats who who have grown accustomed to the right to experience their life indoors and outdoors. I’d you must introduce the laws, just introduce the law for newly registered kittens and their owners who can have the foresight and plan for the infrastructure required to keep the kitten they ‘choose’ to keep under the new rules, and leave the older cats and their owners alone.”

Yes to cat confinement. They come into my dogs yard, make him bark, and I’m the bad guy 🙄

24 hour cat confinement - NO. How about responsible cat ownership. Must have a collar with a bell. Must be chipped and desexed unless exemption in place. A 24 hour cat curfew is abuse and should not even be contemplated. Not all cats enjoy living indoors permanently. I’ve owned three cats over the years. One never went outside (by choice) the other two hated being cooped up and would refuse to use the litter tray.
What is being proposed is not sensible.