Animal Management

Animal Management local laws and pet owners

Our local animal management laws are designed to provide guidance to pet owners and support animals safely living alongside our communities.

Find out about our Animal Management laws here.

Before you get a pet

Before you commit to owning an animal, ensure you can care for it for its entire life. Cats can live up to 18 years of age, and dogs, up to 13 years and sometimes beyond. A pet is for life. Do not abandon a pet or leave it with others who don’t want it or cannot care for it. Stray or abandoned animals suffer unnecessarily and can add to feral populations.

Find out more about caring for your pet.

If you cannot care for your pet, contact your Environmental Health Worker.

Pet registration

All pet dogs, cats and horses require council registration. This is easily organised through the Division Office.

Caring for dogs and cats

Dogs and cats require:

• Fresh water, a healthy diet, bedding and shelter
• Dogs need daily exercise
• Their space cleaned daily and kept free of faeces and old food scraps
• Dogs require a secure yard/ enclosure
• Daily checks for ticks and fleas
• Regular flea, tick and worming treatments
• Up to date vaccinations
• To be microchipped and registered
• To be treated with care and kindness
• Vets visit our region numerous times per year.

Cats inside at night

We encourage cats be kept securely inside during the night. Domestic cats kill large numbers of native wildlife including lizards and birds. Feral cats eat native species to survive, badly impacting our vulnerable island wildlife populations. 

Dogs and cats in your household

You can only have two dogs and two cats, over the age of 3 months at your property. Special permission must be given to have more pets.

Please contact your Division Office to find out more.

Desexing your pet

Dogs and cats at three months old, as well as stallions under 12 months, are required to be desexed. If you have an non-dexed dog, cat or stallion, please contact your Environmental Health Worker about the next scheduled vet visit.

Desexing is beneficial because:

• Desexed animals are less likely to suffer disease and certain illnesses such as mammary cancer and uterine infections in females and prostate problems in males.
• They are less likely to roam and be injured in a fight or being hit by a car.
• It prevents unwanted animals and prolongs the life expectancy of pets.

Horses

Owning a horse comes with the responsibility of ensuring their health, safety, and well-being.

Here are the essential care requirements for horses:

• Provide adequate food and ensure they have access to clean water at all times
• Check on your horse daily to monitor its condition
• Offer proper shelter, such as shade from trees or a walk-in shed
• Allow them to graze freely in paddocks
• Maintain paddocks with secure fencing, free from weeds and debris.

Health and Maintenance

As a horse owner, you need to manage your horse’s health, including:

• Regular checks for ticks, lice, worms and bots
• Keeping up with vaccinations and using preventative treatments for ticks, worms and lice
• Scheduling dental care to ensure proper chewing and nutrition
• Routine hoof care to prevent injuries and infections
• Stallions must be desexed by 12 months of age to manage behavior and prevent breeding

Additionally, all horses must be registered in compliance with local regulations.

Find out more about caring for your horse.

Vet visits

Visiting vets provide desexing, euthanising, micro-chipping and medical treatments during their visits.

Contact your Environmental Health Worker to organise a vet appointment.

We promote awareness and education on animal welfare, in accordance with RSPCA guidelines and Council's local laws.

Community Notice Vet Price List

The Vet will be visiting the region from the 31st of March through to 11th of April 2025.

De-sexing and euthanizing are free, but you will need to pay for vaccinations/treatments, prices are as follows:

Vaccine/Treatment	Price
Ear Cleaner	$30
Nexguard - single tablet	$30
Nexguard - box of 6	$150
Heartworm - chews (6 months)	$60
Heartworm - injection (12 months)	$100
C4 - parvovirus vaccination	$50
C7 - includes parvovirus, kennel cough and leptospirosis	$100
Itching tablets (month of tablets - cost can vary)	$100
Itching - spray	$100
Itching - injection	$20
Mange - injection	$20
Shampoos	$30
Arthritis - injection (10mls last 6-12 months)	$120
Arthritis - supplement (joint rejuvenate)	$50
Cetrigen (purple spray)	$30

All products are subject to availability. If there is something you would like specifically, please contact your local EHW prior to the vet visit so that the vet can endeavor to bring what you need. Note that the vet has limited space on their aircraft so some requests may need to be organised to be sent separately at owner cost.

If you would like to make an appointment for your pet to be treated or seen by the vet, please contact your EHW at the Council Office.

Healthy Animals means healthy environment for you, your family and your community.

Feral animals

Feral animals live in the wild without owners. Dogs, cats and horses are the main feral animals across our region.

These animals can do serious environmental harm to our beautiful islands. They pose health and safety risks to our communities.

If you identify any feral animal activity in and around your community or your house, please contact your Environmental Health Worker (EHW).

You can contact your EHW through your local Division Office.