Responsible Pet Ownership

Greater Shepparton City Council encourages owners to take responsibility for their pets.

Responsible pet ownership involves:

  • taking care of your animal's welfare
  • providing your animal with food, water, shelter and vet care
  • learning how to care for your animal and their needs
  • obtaining the required Council permits
  • registering your dog or cat with Council
  • desexing your animal so it cannot have unwanted babies
  • keeping your animal on your own property and preventing them from wandering
  • following all relevant legislation.

Animal Welfare

Council’s Community Living Local Law No 1 2018, clause 6.1 requires that an owner or occupier of any land must not keep any bird, livestock, or any other animal on that land unless each is kept in accordance with the relevant Code of Practice.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, an owner must ensure that they provide their animal with sufficient and proper food, water, shelter and veterinary care.

Learn more about Animal Welfare and Animal Cruelty

Animal Keeping

Council’s Community Living Local Law No 1 2018, clause 6.1 requires owners to obtain a permit to keep certain numbers of dogs, cats, birds and livestock in residential, industrial or commercial area or on land of less than 2 hectares in a farming zone. 

Learn more about how many animals you can keep on your property

Council's Planning Scheme

Council's Planning Scheme limits the number and type of animals that can be kept in certain planning zones. Please contact Council for information regarding the Planning Scheme.

Council Registration for Dogs and Cats

Every dog and cat over the age of three months must be registered.

Learn more about Council Registration for Dogs and Cats.

Desexing

Responsible pet ownership includes desexing your animal to prevent unwanted babies. Rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats and livestock can all be desexed.  For more information, please contact your local vet.

Learn more about Desexing of Dogs and Cats.

Wandering Animals

Animals wandering in public places, on roads or trespassing on private property can cause a danger to the community.

Council business hours services

Council offers a Community Ranger service from 8:15am to 5pm Monday to Friday to deal with all Animal Management and Local Laws matters. Officers are able to attend to wandering domestic animals and livestock situations including:

  • livestock on Council-controlled roads
  • dogs wandering in public places
  • dogs trespassing on private property
  • dog attacks
  • injured animals
  • other situations deemed by an authorised officer to require assistance.

For advice, or to request assistance from a Community Ranger, please contact Council on (03) 5832 9700.

Council after hours services

Council offers an emergency after hours ranger service from 5pm to 8.15am Monday to Friday and all hours of the weekend, to deal with Animal Management and Local Laws emergencies, including:

  • livestock on Council-controlled roads
  • dog attacks
  • injured animals
  • other situations deemed by an authorised officer to be an emergency.

For an emergency please contact Council on (03) 5832 9700, and to report an animal emergency, please press 1. If you wish to report a local laws emergency, please press 2.

Non-emergency situations, including enquiries for the Animal Shelter, reports of uncontained dogs, noise issues and burning off in residential or commercial areas, are dealt with during business hours and will not be attended to by our after hours service.

Information packs on responsible pet ownership are available at the Council offices (90 Welsford Street, Shepparton). Alternatively, follow the links below to find out more about responsible pet ownership.