The City of Stonnington has this week considered two key reports relating to Council's focus on animal welfare.
Council has received the final report of the Animal Management Taskforce, which was convened in June 2025 to advise on recommended proposals for a modern, compassionate and fit-for-purpose animal pound and shelter model for Stonnington.
The taskforce has made recommendations relating to:
a regional pound
in-house service delivery
value-for-money review
potential new tender specifications
philanthropy options
potential revenue generation opportunities.
Council will take some weeks to seek advice, consult with neighbouring councils and assess facility improvements that could be made at the current facility before providing a final recommendation by the end of May. In the meantime, Council has taken the decision to extend the current contract for animal management services with the incumbent provider, Save-A-Dog scheme, until at least the end of 2026.
Stonnington is committed to animal welfare including minimising euthanasia wherever possible, and avoiding animals ending up in the pound at all - as outlined in the draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP), also considered by Council this week.
The updated Draft DAMP 2026-2029 establishes Council's strategic approach to managing dogs and cats in Stonnington, with a focus on promoting responsible pet ownership, ensuring pets and people are safe and live well together, and balancing shared use of public spaces.
The DAMP will be exhibited publicly for community comment from 31 March to 28 April 2026, and we encourage residents to provide feedback on the Connect website.
Cr Melina Sehr, Mayor of Stonnington said "we know from consultation to date on the DAMP that Stonnington adores their pets and as a dog lover myself I'm no different - we all want our beloved pets to be responsibly cared for, healthy, and safely enjoying our natural environment. We also know that our community has strong interest in our animal management services."
"I thank the Animal Management Taskforce, the Chair, secretariat, and Councillors and community members for their contribution to delivering this final report, as well as the team in Council for their hard work on the DAMP, and I look forward to thoughtful and strategic decisions on animal care and management in coming weeks," she said.
