Draft Animal Management Plan promotes responsible pet ownership

Published on 01 August 2024

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The Shire of Broome is one step closer to adopting a formal Animal Management Plan after the Council voted to adopt a draft document for the purposes of seeking community feedback over a four-week period.

The Draft Animal Management Plan aims to improve responsible pet ownership and proposes several key actions. These include the establishment of designated dog exercise areas in residential parks and a ban on off-lead dogs in crowded beach areas such as the vehicle-accessible area of Gantheaume Beach.

It also proposes to trial using BRAC playing fields as dog off-leash areas when they are not used for organised sports or events.

Dogs on or off lead will be banned from being within 10 metres of a playground and must be on a leash near horses, camels, turtles, footpaths, jetties, and where a boat is being launched or retrieved from a boat ramp or on a beach.

Click here to read the Draft Animal Management Plan and to learn more about the public submission process. 

Off-lead areas, which will continue to include most of the beaches around Broome, and will be subject to conditions, including:

  • A person must be capable of controlling their dog and must be near the dog at all times.
  • Carry a leash so it can be quickly attached to gain control of the dog.
  • Remove any faeces left by the dog.
  • The dog must not chase or harass any other person, animal or bird even if it is just being playful.

Other key features of the Plan include Introducing a new ‘Cat Local Law’ to provide for cat containment and a maximum number of cats per property.

Recommendations in the Draft Animal Management Plan resulted from extensive public consultation focusing on pet ownership of dogs and cats in Broome, with considerations for interactions with people, horses and wildlife.

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The Shire engaged Catalyse Research to develop the Animal Management Plan. This involved one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders, including SAFE Broome, Broome Veterinary Hospital, Paws and Effect Dog Training, camel operators, Broome Horse Riders Club, Broome Bird Observatory and Kimberley Port Authority.

Information from the stakeholder interviews shaped the questions in a public survey, which was open for four weeks in early 2024 and received 1002 responses.

In June, two 90-minute community workshops were held, during which attendees were asked whether they supported, opposed, or were unsure about certain recommendations that came out of the survey.  

This high level of public engagement demonstrates the community's active role in shaping the Animal Management Plan.

Shire President Chris Mitchell thanked everyone who participated in the community consultation process that led to the Draft Animal Management Plan.

“There is strong support for clear, fair and commonsense rules that balance the needs of pets and people and the Draft Plan provides this,” Shire President Mitchell said.

“The community consultation period included people with pets and those without, but there was strong support from people from both camps for stronger controls on dogs where large groups of people gather, such as Gantheaume Beach.

“People should be able to enjoy a picnic, swim or carry out activities without having to worry about dogs running around unchecked.”

“Once the plan is adopted, there will be clear signage pointing out the rules in place in a particular area to ensure people understand their responsibilities as pet owners.”