Responsible animal ownership
Dogs and cats must not wander outside their owner’s property unless they are under effective control.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, dog and cat owners can be fined or prosecuted for offences in certain circumstances. These include:
- if your dog or cat is found outside your premises. It may also be impounded
- if your dog or cat is found in a public area declared off limits by Council (such as parks)
- if you encourage or cause your dog to attack, bite, worry or chase a person or another animal
- if you encourage or cause your dog or cat to be a nuisance.
How many animals can I have?
Loddon Shire Council's Community Local Law regulates the keeping of animals.
For most properties, a permit is required when more than 4 different kinds of animals are housed on any one property or when the number of animals being kept exceeds the numbers in the table below.
Table 1: Permitted number of animals per property without a permit being required.
| Maximum number allowed |
| Type of animal |
Residential area or land
that is equal to or less
than 2,000m2 in any
other area
|
Rural residential area or land
greater than 2,000m2 but less
than 4ha any other area
|
Farming area where land
is equal to or
greater than 4ha
|
| Dogs |
2 |
2 |
5 |
| Cats |
2 |
2 |
5 |
| Pigeons |
12 |
30 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Poultry (excl. roosters) |
12 |
20 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Poultry (roosters) |
None. Permit required for
any
|
1 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Small birds |
50 |
100 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Ducks |
None. Permit required for
any
|
10 |
No limit. No permit
required
|
| Large birds |
None. Permit required for
any
|
10 |
No limit. No permit
required
|
| Domestic mice |
10 |
10 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Guinea pigs |
10 |
10 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Ferrets |
2 |
4 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Domestic rabbits |
6 |
6 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Horses/donkeys |
None. Permit required for
any
|
4 |
No limit. No permit
required
|
| Cattle |
None. Permit required for
any
|
4 |
No limit. No permit required
|
| Sheep |
None. Permit required for
any
|
10 |
No limit. No permit required |
| Goats |
None. Permit required for
any
|
10 |
No limit. No permit required
|
| Pigs |
None Permit required for
any
|
None. Permit required for
any
|
No limit. No permit
required
|
| Other farm animals |
None. Permit required for
any
|
None. Permit required for
any
|
No limit. No permit
required
|
You may be able to keep animals in excess of the number listed above, however a Local Law permit must be obtained prior to locating the animals to your property.
To discuss the requirements, please contact Local Laws staff on (03) 5494 1200 or complete an Application for a Local Law permit.
Reporting lost, found, wandering or nuisance dogs or cats
If you have lost or found a dog or cat, or wish to report a wandering or nuisance dog or cat please contact Local Laws staff for assistance by phone (03) 5494 1200.
Council pound
Dogs and cats found to be wandering within the municipality will be impounded and cared for by Council’s Local Laws staff in Council’s pound located in Wedderburn.
Impounded dogs and cats are managed in accordance with the Domestic Animals Act 1994.
Impounding fees, charges for the care of animals and fines may apply when collecting an animal from the pound.