Logan City Council's new Animal Management Plan introduces initiatives that not only help residents embrace responsible pet ownership, but it also includes measures tailored for the broader community.
The plan is designed to shape and evolve Council's animal-related regulatory services over the next three years.
It also reinforces Council's commitment to public safety through a zero-tolerance approach to irresponsible animal ownership and anti-social or high risk animal behaviour.
The Animal Management Plan 2023, which builds on the 2018-2022 strategy, also considers wider animal-related issues across the community - including making it easier to report complaints such as aggressive and straying animals and dogs barking.
Council plans to tap into sound-monitoring technology to support investigations into animal noise complaints.
This will remove the need for residents to complete lengthy written records for barking dogs and will provide more accurate data as complaints are investigated.
City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said significant community consultation was undertaken to ensure the plan captured the animal-related sentiments shared by everyone in the City of Logan.
"Council strongly supports responsible animal ownership in the community," Cr Power said.
"This new Animal Management Plan renews our focus on ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.
"It will act as a clear road map when it comes managing animals in our city."
Many of the plan's actions relate to improving customer experience on animal-related matters.
These include:
- Delivering public awareness messages about the obligation of dog owners to adequately contain their pets and to ensure safe access to their property;
- Conducting a review of practices around complaints to ensure public safety concerns are allocated the best resources, quickly;
- Reviewing dog park signage to highlight the responsibilities of pet owners and improved safety of dogs in public places and;
- Exploring opportunities for Council to promote the reporting of, and intolerance towards, animal welfare concerns across the city.
City Lifestyle Chair Councillor Laurie Koranski said Council would continue to build strategic partnerships with government, industry and the community to tackle irresponsible pet ownership.
This includes ongoing advocacy as a key member of a recently formed taskforce which is reviewing the Queensland Government's Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.
This review aims to promote greater levels of public safety through a reform of the legislation responsible for managing dangerous dogs within the community.
"Long-term positive behaviour change in the community will be encouraged through the delivery of educational campaigns, initiatives and where necessary, enforcement to ensure pet ownership obligations are known and understood," Cr Koranski said.
To read a copy of the plan visit lccqld.com/animal-plan
