Responsible Pet Ownership

Cat Containment

Containing your cat means completely preventing them roaming from your property at any time, day or night. This can be achieved by keeping your cat indoors, or a combination of indoors and having a secure outdoor enclosure, or cat-proof fencing around an outdoor area. In other words, keeping your cat safe at home and not letting them roam.

Cat Enclosures

Cat enclosures are a great option for cat owners to ensure that cats have a healthy amount of time outside without threatening wildlife or roaming. Click the link above for instructions from Agriculture Victoria on how to build your own cat enclosure.

Cat Proof Fencing

Cat proofing your fencing provides your cat with free access to all or part of your yard. If you have a small yard then this may be a better and cheaper alternative to building a cat enclosure. An ideal spot for cat proof fencing is that narrow area between the house and a fence that can be closed off at each end by gates

Free Standing Cat Enclosures

Cats love to move around and keep watch over their territory. They need a warm dry bed and somewhere to laze in the sun. By building your own cat enclosure you can tailor it exactly to the needs of your cat. Cats love the variety that this system of enclosure provides, especially if it is linked to the family home through a cat door.

Using Leashes
Owning a dog encourages physical exercise as well as social connection and interaction, which generates a range of benefits for both dog and owner. However, ensuring the dog remains under effective control when being exercised off-lead in approved areas, or on-leash in public places including streets and roads is crucial. Council encourages off-lead activities in appropriate locations and encourages owners to keep their dogs on a lead if the dog cannot be kept under effective control when off-lead.

Dog Parks
The introduction of a dog park in Nhill during the month of November 2024 provides a valuable asset to dogs and their owners, at present the dog park will be the only approved off-lead area within the municipality.

Appropriate Fencing
One of the main causes of dog incidents or unwanted approaches is a result of inadequate fencing to secure the dog to a property; or not having the dog under effective control in public places. Dogs that wander can be a threat to livestock, other animals and the community, particularly children and the elderly. Council places a high priority on ensuring adequate control over dogs and encourages matters to be reported to Council.

Council defines effective control as being secured by a chain, cord or leash.

Dogs at Large
Accidental escapes account for a majority of instances of wandering at large, in situations of regular or persistent wandering due to a lack of action to contain the dog(s) from the owner, a sterner approach may be applied in accordance with Council’s Enforcement obligations under the Act and forming part of the Council Local Laws.

Nhill Pound
Council operates a purpose-built facility in Nhill to accommodate animals on a short-term basis locally. This assists in reuniting animals and owners as soon as possible.

Children and Dogs
There are benefits for children growing up with pets. Ranging from health and exercise, to care, compassion and responsibility. It is critical that children are supervised around dogs. The instances of dog bites are often a result of the family pet.

Confining your Dog
The diversity of land uses within the Hindmarsh Shire sees a mix of residential, rural living, hobby farms and large primary production areas. Confining dogs to a property is critical to reducing instances of dogs impacting on livestock. It is important that dog owners are aware of their legal obligations and potential consequences when dogs are involved in chasing, harassing or attacking livestock. A dog chasing livestock or being in a livestock enclosure can cause distress and injury to the other animals.

Council strives to ensure that animals found wandering are returned to their owners as soon as possible. This reduces stress on both dog and owner. A very high percentage of dogs found wandering are reunited with their owners the same day.

Registering your Dog
Registration allows Council to effectively and quickly re-unite pets with their owners. Within the municipality, Dogs over three (3) months of age are required to be registered. Prior to registration dogs must be microchipped and Council encourages owner to have their dogs desexed. To register your animal, click below:

REGISTER MY ANIMALS

Keeping more than 2 Dogs
Property owners and occupiers within the within the municipality are required to obtain a Permit should they wish to keep more than two (2) dogs over three (3) months of age.

After Hours Contact
Council provides an after-hours service for emergency serious incidents. Visit our Contact Council page.