Shellharbour City Council has carefully considered public feedback received during the recent consultation process and has made amendments to the Keeping of Animals in Residential Areas Policy.
The revised policy was adopted at last night's Council Meeting and aims to strike an appropriate balance between responsible pet ownership with the needs of the wider community.
Developed in response to a significant increase in complaints about animals causing a nuisance or negatively affecting the neighbourhood, the Policy provides clear guidelines for both Council staff and pet owners, aligning with the Council's responsibilities under the Local Government Act (1993).
Caption: Draft Keeping of Animals Policy is adopted. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
The Policy originally included a reduction in the number of dogs allowed on residential properties from four to three. After carefully considering public feedback, Councillors decided to retain the limit at four.
The Council meeting also resolved the development of guidelines for safe and responsible dog ownership in regards to the behaviour of all dogs.
The Policy is set to be used as a framework for dealing with complaints and to provide certainty to both pet owners and the broader community in relation to responsible pet ownership.
The policy provides a balanced approach in helping Council staff respond to complaints and give pet owners clear guidelines. Controlling and regulating the keeping of animals is one of Council's responsibilities under the Local Government Act (1993).
The public exhibition of the Policy took place from 19 December 2024 to 30 January 2025. During that period, submissions from the community on Council's Let's Chat page reflected a range of opinions, primarily opposing the policy. Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the amendment of the Policy showed Council were committed to listening to community feedback.
"Council has heard and actively listened to the community and their concerns regarding the Draft Keeping of Animals in Residential Areas Policy," Mayor Homer said.
"Council remains committed to representing the people of our community across the board. When they speak, as Councillors, we listen."
Council recognises that owning pets and animals greatly benefits our well-being. This policy will help ensure we are considerate of each other and our environment by looking at:
- The size of the property
- Where the animals will be kept and how close they are to building on the property or next door
- The type of animals
- The number of animals
- Consent from the property owner
- The likely impact on the animals on the environment and the area
- Written support from neighbours, which will help with applications for exceptions
You can read the draft report by heading to the Keeping of Animals Policy for our City Let's Chat page.
