animal management strategy revised edition 2013 …€¦ · logan city council animal management...

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY REVISED EDITION - 2013-2018

Logan City Council Animal Management Strategy Revised Edition - 2013-2018

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Introduction

Animal Management Strategy Logan's initial 2011-2015 Animal Management Strategy (the Strategy) identified the key issues impacting the community and provided five strategic directions for animal management to be achieved over 4 years. In 2013, given the changes experienced in two years together with the achievements accomplished earlier than anticipated, a need for a further review was identified. The original Strategy will continue to improve the effectiveness of animal management services and activities by:

� Improving community participation; � Improving coordination of proactive services; � Increasing public awareness of the need to responsibly manage

companion animals, thereby reducing the number of animal related nuisances;

� Monitoring and reporting of performance through the Animal and Pest Services Branch Business Plan; and

� Prioritising reactive services provided to the community.

The following components have been identified and will be added to the 2013-2018 revised edition:

� Care, welfare and management of impounded animals; � Revision of Local Law 4 and Subordinate Local Law 4.1; � Pest Animal Management; � Animal nuisance including barking dogs and Local Law enforcement; � Community Education including the SHUSH program; � Increasing community awareness particularly in relation to desexing

cats and dogs through promotional tools such as DESEXPO and participating in RSPCA Queensland's Million Paws Walk by conducting a Logan event;

� Disease management; � Disaster Preparation, Management and Recovery; � Social media; � Kennel and Cattery Licensing; � Future land development 213 Queens Road Kingston; � Planning for animal services in new communities.

The effective management of companion animals requires a commitment from the entire Logan community. This includes the public, staff, pet owners, retail outlets and veterinarians as well as three levels of government (Federal, State and Local), associations and industry groups.


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Through this Strategy, Council will invite our community and key stakeholders to work in partnership to meet the existing and future challenges associated with animal management in Logan.

Key Issues and Strategic Directions

1. Key Issue: The Threat to Public Safety Caused by Dogs Not Being Under Effective Control

Dogs not on leads, dogs that wander from their property enclosure, dogs that rush at fences when pedestrians are passing by and dogs that attack other animals or people are deemed not to be under effective control. The impact of dogs not being under effective control is of great concern to the community and Council. The animal management service conducts proactive and reactive patrolling to locate wandering dogs. Property inspections are conducted to ensure that enclosures such as gates and fences comply with the Local Law and Subordinate Local Law and are sufficient to contain cats and dogs as well as livestock. The Animal Management Program places a high priority on investigating reported dog attacks which are of great concern to both Council and the community. The Program investigates reported dog attacks and in the 2012/2013 financial year:

� Investigated 927 dog attacks; � Inspected 838 problem enclosures; and � Conducted 4781 reactive patrols and collections.

Based on the above figures, 1 in every 310 people living in Logan City reported being attacked, or having their animal attacked by a dog in the 2012/2013 financial year. This equates to roughly 1 dog attack every 9.5 hours.

1.1. Strategy: Reduce the threat to public safety caused by dogs not being under effective control

Wandering Animals and Off Leash Exercise Areas The appropriate management of wandering animals (animals who have escaped under, over or through a fence or gate or property boundary and are not in the control of an owner or keeper) is crucial to effectively reduce the number of dog attacks within the City. 'The Impact of Dog Attacks in a Major Australian City', by Peter G Thompson, Medical Journal of Australia, Vol 167, no. 3 August 1997 was a comprehensive study of the incidence and the effect of dog attacks on people in Adelaide.


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Thompson identified that more than half of the incidents occurred in public places and concluded that "It is reasonable to assume that if the dogs had been restrained, these attacks could not have occurred" (Thompson, 1997, p132). The City has dog-off leash exercise areas strategically located in over 34 locations. Although Logan acquired some un-fenced exercise areas under the boundary reform, Council does not support this concept. In an effort to reduce the incidence and the severity of dog attacks in off leash exercise areas, Council has, and will, continue to construct fenced areas which separate small dogs from large dogs. The regular patrols of off leash exercise areas by Animal Management Officers will continue.

ACTION: Continue to roster the patrolling and monitoring of dog off leash exercise areas by animal management officers to develop strong community relationships.

1.2. Strategy: Regulated dogs Council may issue regulations which result in dogs being declared menacing, dangerous or restricted. Dogs involved in fatalities and serious mauling attacks are often found to have a history of unaddressed menacing or aggressive behaviour. The menacing dog classification was introduced by the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 to ensure the containment of the dog is such to prevent an escalation to harmful behaviour. An authorised Local Government officer may declare a dog to be a menacing dog on the same grounds applicable to a dangerous dog, except that the attack was not deemed quite as serious. An authorised Local Government officer may declare a dog to be a dangerous dog only if the dog:

� Has seriously attacked or acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal; or

� Is likely to, in the opinion of an authorised officer and having regard to the way the dog has behaved towards a person or another animal, may seriously attack or act in a way that will cause fear to a person or animal.

1.2.1 Strategy: Restricted dogs A restricted dog is a dog of a breed prohibited from importation into Australia under the Customs Act 1901. A dog is a restricted dog if it is the subject of a restricted dog declaration.


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These breeds are:

� Pit Bull Terrier Breeds includes the American Pit Bull Terrier; � Dogo Argentino (Argentinian fighting dog); � Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian fighting dog); � Japanese Tosa; and � Perro de Presa Canario.

Of these, the Pit Bull Terrier and the Perro de Presa Canario are the only breeds currently known to exist in Australia.

ACTION: 2013 Conduct an annual review of all properties housing restricted or regulated dogs to ensure compliance with regulated keeping conditions is maintained.

Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 all regulated dogs must be microchipped, wear an identification tag, be kept in a prescribed enclosure with a prescribed sign displayed and be kept under effective control.

ACTION: 2013 Investigate implementation of compulsory reflective

Yellow / Red high-visibility collars for regulated dogs, to be worn in association with the gold regulated dog tag to easily identify regulated dogs at a distance.

1.3 Strategy: Animal Management Procedures Procedures are the sets of instructions which employees follow to conduct day to day operations both thoroughly and consistently in line with legislation and the Branch Business and Operational Plans. Adherence to well established procedures provides employees and Council with the ability to confidently defend allegations of legal or regulatory violations.

ACTION: Finalise animal management and control procedures

and monitor staff compliance. ACTION: 2013: Review all Animal Management Program procedures

in conjunction with the proposed amendments to Local Law 4 and Subordinate Local Law 4.1 (Animal Management) 2002, to improve the efficiency of resource allocation.

1.4 Strategy: Pest Animal Management Pest animal management is undertaken in response to landholder complaints. Proactive control is undertaken on sites known to have a history of pest animals. An integrated pest management approach is used to control declared pest animals. This includes surveillance, baiting, trapping, shooting and education.


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The full impact of pest animals is difficult to determine, but the destruction of livestock and poultry is a common outcome which results in considerable distress for owners of the stock.

ACTION: 2013 Continue to map pest animal activity to Council's

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to improve the effectiveness of proactive wild dog control.

2. Key Issue: Barking dogs and animal nuisance Barking dogs and animal nuisances pose difficulties for both the community and officers resulting in a difficult working environment. Issues such as varying community tolerances to nuisances and the expectation that Council will be able to provide an immediate solution often result in complaints being escalated to Councillors.

2.1. Strategy: Manage nuisance noise caused by domestic animals (particularly barking dogs) and Local Law enforcement of noise nuisance

In early 2012 Animal and Pest Services Branch conducted an internal review of resources to address the problem of nuisance barking in Logan and resulted in:

• The restructuring of staff to enable the recruitment of a second dedicated Animal Nuisance Response Officer to focus on enforcement of local laws

• Increasing proactive community education aimed at reducing excessive barking (barking seminars) and;

• Establishing the SHUSH program (Some Help Understanding Sounds from Hounds)

• Reviewing and updating marketing and education materials associated with nuisance barking.

The enforcement of animal nuisances is a complex matter. For example, before compliance notices and infringements can be issued to an owner of a dog barking excessively, Council is required to undertake a comprehensive and impartial investigation to gather sufficient evidence to confirm that the excessive barking is actually occurring and the complaint is not a vexatious one. This investigation takes time and during this process Council officers seek to balance the needs of the complainant, the needs of the animal owners, the welfare of the animals involved and the requirements of the law. Complainants in these matters are often frustrated at the amount of time taken for matters to be resolved, however this could be minimised through early intervention into barking complaints.


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ACTION: 2013: Conduct regular reviews of current case loads and the allocation of resources to increase property visits as part of the first response to barking complaints.

Council officers have suggested that greater recognition of the role of technology to facilitate barking monitoring and confirm nuisance may reduce the time taken to resolve complaints. While barking count collars are currently used in consultation with owners to determine if and when there is a problem, this usage may be expanded under the planned local law review.

ACTION: 2013: Continue the use of bark counting collars and review

the definition of excessive barking and evidentiary requirements contained in Local Law 4 (Animal Management) 2002.

Implementing the requirement for the complainant to provide a sworn statement to Council would demonstrate sincerity and a willingness to partner with Council to achieve the desired outcome of restoring peace to the neighbourhood. Maintaining a record of the times the nuisance barking occurs would also form part of the evidence and enable a more timely resolution. This commitment by the complainant may serve to eliminate some vexatious requests.

ACTION: 2013: Trial the requirement for complainants to submit

Nuisance Barking Records together with a sworn statement and monitor any withdrawal of complaints that may result.

The power of and importance of neighbourhood conversations cannot be underestimated in the resolution of barking nuisances. Where neighbours have shown empathy and cooperation by altering their day to day routines to attempt to resolve the issue, better outcomes have been achieved in a timely manner.

Barking complaints can also be related to ongoing neighbourhood disputes. Identifying and closing barking complaints that may be vexatious allows officers to direct time and resources to the resolution of genuine barking nuisance.

ACTION: 2013: Where a complainant refuses to complete Nuisance

Barking Records or returns incomplete Records, no further action will be taken by Council and the complaint will be closed.

ACTION: 2013: Where Council has exhausted all avenues to confirm

nuisance barking, including a neighbourhood survey, the complaint will be closed but re-opened immediately should new evidence be provided.


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2.2. Strategy: Community Education and Training Working in partnership with the RSPCA Queensland and KONG, Logan City Council will continue to deliver animal behavioural seminars for dog owners at a number of locations throughout Logan. These seminars provide information on why dogs bark, identify barking triggers, suggest solutions to barking problems as well as provide overall information on Council services and programs.

ACTION: 2013: Continue behavioural seminars focussing on remedies for barking dogs. Extend invitations to all owners of dogs who have been the subject of barking complaints to attend the seminars.

2.3. Strategy: SHUSH Program (Some Help Understanding Sounds from Hounds)

The objective of the SHUSH program is to provide one-on-one noise abatement information and dog training techniques to the dog owner to reduce problem barking to an acceptable level. The goal of the intervention is to identify the trigger for excessive barking and work with the owner to develop a training plan that will address this behaviour. Training techniques advocated by the SHUSH program generally centre on improving the barking dog's lifestyle and providing mental stimulation or 'boredom buster' techniques. KONG products are a fundamental part of this program with most owners being provided a KONG and training in how to correctly use the product is essential. Ensuring that dog owners understand how to use the KONG (e.g. selecting the right size KONG for the dog) is vital to the program, as in many cases owners had previously found these products unhelpful due to being unaware of how to use them effectively. KONG sponsor the SHUSH program. Bark and Activity Counter Collars are also utilised as an important tool in the SHUSH Program. These collars record the frequency and duration of barking along with the level of activity exhibited by the dog at the time. They are therefore useful in diagnosing when/if significant barking is occurring, determining any pattern of barking behaviour and what could be the possible triggers. This information is then used to tailor training to each individual dog and its circumstance.


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ACTION: 2013 Continue targeted SHUSH dog training to dog owners and monitor the program's success through incidence of recurrent barking complaints and customer satisfaction.

2.4. Strategy: Correspondence, Resources & Tools The requirement to issue significant amounts of correspondence to all parties involved in a nuisance complaint impacts heavily on resources. While this correspondence is necessary, the information contained has been identified by staff as an area for improvement.

ACTION: 2013: Conduct an ongoing review of all outgoing

correspondence to ensure it maintains current information and is written in plain English and in a user friendly format.

Providing customers with relevant and informative correspondence may have a positive impact on resources by reducing the number of telephone phone callers seeking clarification.

ACTION: 2013: Ensure current and relevant educational material is

included in all outgoing correspondence as appropriate.

3. Key Issue: Unregistered, unidentified and unwanted cats and dogs.

Humans and domestic cats and dogs have shared a bond for many hundreds of years. Companion animals form part of the Australian culture, contributing to an active and healthy way of life, reducing stress and improving mental health and well-being. Despite the benefits associated with ownership, thousands of cats and dogs are euthanised annually by Local Governments, Animal Shelters and Welfare Groups. The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 places a mandatory requirement for all cats and dogs over twelve weeks of age to be registered with the relevant local government. While the State Government has indicated the Act will be changed to allow Local Governments in Queensland the option of registering cats, Logan City Council has indicated it will continue cat registration. Registration of cats and dogs with Council is fundamental to the delivery of animal management services. The benefits of animal registration are:


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� Compliance with State legislation, saving dog owners being penalised up to

$200 for failing to register an animal; � Impounded cats and dogs being able to be reunited with their owners

because they are wearing their registration tags; and � Euthanasia rates are minimised.

Income generated from registrations is dedicated to animal management, community education and public safety. Services and benefits paid for by fees include:

� Identification of wandering cats and dogs - the registration tag expedites the animal's return and makes notification of the animal's whereabouts possible;

� Animal management services - if owners of straying cats and dogs cannot be contacted immediately, Council provides a clean facility with food, water and protection from the elements;

� The facility provides an opportunity for unregistered cats and dogs to be located by their owners. Unclaimed animals are afforded every opportunity to be re-homed through Council's Sales and Rehoming Program or through partnerships with animal welfare agencies;

� The health and welfare of impounded animals is a priority with the on-site Combined Vets of Logan City (CVLC) providing treatment where required. Incoming dogs are vaccinated against kennel cough;

� Proactive patrolling by Animal Management Officers to reduce the number of wandering animals;

� Investigation and resolution of barking complaints through guidance and support;

� Regulation of the number of animals permitted on each property to minimise nuisance;

� Containment of dangerous dogs; � The requirement for leashing control of dogs in public places; and � Investigation of dog attacks � Provision of a Community Education program in respect of companion

animals.

Strategy: Comply with legislative requirements by increasing animal registrations and microchipping

3.1. Increase Animal Registrations It is important to note that registering an animal with a Council authority has nothing to do with microchipping. The two should not be confused.

Council conducts an Approved Systematic Inspection Program currently in line with the requirements of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. The authority for Council to carry out an Approved Systematic Inspection Program


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(survey of all households) for Unregistered Dogs is currently provided under section 113 of the Act.

"A local government (the approving local government) may by resolution approve a program (an approved inspection program) under which an authorised person may enter a place to monitor compliance with this Act or an aspect of this Act."

The Approved Systematic Inspection Programs for Unregistered Dogs assist Council in:

� Increasing the number of dogs carrying identification tags; � Improving Council's ability to locate owners of wandering dogs through

registration tags; � Minimising the number of unclaimed dogs that are euthanased; and � Determining the location of regulated dogs and ensuring compliance

with regulations pertaining to the keeping of regulated dogs.

Section 113(e) of the Act prescribes a period of six (6) months over which a program is to be carried out. Two six monthly programs are advertised and conducted annually throughout Logan.

ACTION: 2013: Introduce "lifetime" animal registration tags to

remove the requirement for residents to change tags on an annual basis.

ACTION: 2014: Introduce flexible payment options through Australia

Post to facilitate easy payment options. ACTION: 2014 Investigate options to reward early and consistent

payment of animal registrations. ACTION: 2013: Continue the registration of cats within Logan City

irrespective of any changes to the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 by the Queensland State Government.

3.2. Educate the Community on the need to keep Council Registration information up to date

As part of the ongoing campaign to promote responsible companion animal ownership, Council informs cat and dog owners of the need for their animals to be registered and for their registration details to be kept up to date through media releases, paid advertisements, radio programs, brochures, booklets, Council newsletters and the Internet. "Return to sender" registration notices received by Council following the annual mail out of renewals indicate that hundreds of owners neglect to update their personal


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details. This compromises Council's ability to re-unite animals with their owners. The most common incorrect details are incorrect phone numbers and addresses. Cats and dogs have a greatly reduced chance of being reunited with their owners when these details are incorrect.

ACTION: Carry out a data cleansing process of all unpaid cat

and dog registrations to confirm whether resident contact details remain current and remove out of date records from system.

ACTION: Use social media to educate the community of the

need to keep registration information current.

3.3. Increase the Number of Microchipped Cats and Dogs Microchipping an animal should not be confused with Logan City Council's animal registration. The two actions are completely separate. Council has introduced an impound release fee structure that:

� Encourages keepers to desex and microchip their impounded cat or dog prior to release from the Animal Management Centre at discounted rates;

� Rewards responsible companion animal owners who have desexed, microchipped and registered their animals prior to their being impounded with discounted release fees; and

� Penalises owners of impounded cats or dogs who opt for the "entire" release fee for their cat(s) or dog(s).

Compulsory microchipping of claimed impounded cats and dogs at point of release takes place in keeping with the intent of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and penalties are issued to owners whose cats or dogs are repeatedly impounded.

ACTION: 2013: Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the impound

release fees including compulsory microchipping of cats and dogs and recommend further improvements to Council.

3.4. Educate the Community on the need to keep microchip information up to date

The microchip records of impounded animals often hold out of date address and telephone numbers of the owners. Many owners neglect to update their change of address and telephone numbers with the microchipping company. This prevents Council from being able to re-unite animals with their owners particularly if the animal does not have a registration tag.


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ACTION: 2013 Use social media options to educate the community of the need to keep microchip information current.

3.5. Increase the Number of Desexed Cats and Dogs High percentages of entire cats and dogs are impounded. Council, in conjunction with the Combined Vets of Logan City, resolved that:

� A reduced release fee for an impounded, registered, desexed and microchipped cat or dog be provided to reward and recognise responsible companion animal owners;

� All owners of impounded cats and dogs are required to microchip their animal(s) prior to release;

� Owners wishing to release an animal as entire be penalised with a significantly higher release fee; and

� Owners whose cats and dogs are repeatedly impounded face harsher penalties and the prospect of losing their animals on the fourth impound in a twelve month period.

ACTION: Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the impound

release fees including discounted desexing of cats and dogs and recommend further improvements to Council.

Continue to reward owners (who choose to desex

their cats and dogs) with significantly lower registration fees compared with the fees for entire domestic cats and dogs.

ACTION: 2013 Recommend that Council set a reduced fee for de-

sexed Declared Menacing Dogs to encourage their de-sexing.

3.6. DE-SEXPO In 2012, Logan City Council launched "DE-SEXPO" to encourage residents of Logan to desex their cats and dogs. An incentive based system, DE-SEXPO provided free microchipping to any cat or dog that is booked for a desexing procedure at the Combined Vets of Logan City Clinic, 213 Queens Road, Kingston in the designated month. The microchip is implanted at the time of desexing.

ACTION: 2013 Conduct DE-SEXPO annually, to promote desexing of cats and dogs through the Combined Vets of Logan City.


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Examine incentives to encourage bookings to maximise the number of desexing procedures for the designated period of DE-SEXPO.

4. Key Issue: Operation of the Animal Management Centre

4.1 Management of unclaimed animals.

Logan City Council impounds hundreds of lost, wandering or nuisance cats and dogs every month. The Animal Management Centre has 88 kennels to hold impounded dogs and can house up to 60 impounded cats.

As a result of these numbers, it naturally follows that for the animal management facility to service the needs of Logan, Council needs to ensure that animals remain at the centre for the shortest possible period. It is essential that there are kennels available every day for dogs that are found wandering or are impounded because of the risk they pose to community safety. The ideal outcome is for the owner to be identified through registration or microchip details and reunited with their cat or dog. If the owner cannot be identified, Council will post a picture of the animal on its website and hope the owner comes forward. It is Council's policy to allow three (3) working days for owners to contact Council and reclaim their animal, however in most cases, animals are held for longer than this while the owner is sought. From the time an owner is identified and contacted, an additional five days to allow for collection applies. If the owner does not come forward within the specified time, the cat or dog becomes the property of Logan City Council. To make the best decision for the community and the animal, dogs are assessed to determine whether they suitable for inclusion in the sales and rehoming program. This process involves a behavioural assessment and veterinary health check for dogs and a health check for cats. Health checks are conducted by the Combined Vets of Logan City Desexing and Microchip Clinic (CVLC). This clinic is located at 213 Queens Road Kingston and is an integral component of Council's Animal Management Program. Council will not include animals in its sale program that have behavioural issues which may pose a risk to the community, or health issues that will have a long term impact on both the animal and the prospective owner. If an animal fails a health check or behavioural assessment then Council will consider the options available. If it is a minor health or behavioural issue Council may be able to re-home the animal through an organisation such as the Animal Welfare League, or breed specific groups that have partnership agreements with

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Council. Such organisations usually have the time and the resources to resolve behavioural or health problems that may prevent the animal from being a suitable candidate for sale in Council's program. Unfortunately, like Council, these organisations are often at capacity and can only take limited numbers. Occasionally, members of staff are able to foster animals and work with them to overcome behavioural issues. This requires dedication and commitment from the officer who works with the dog in their own time. A resultant rehoming is celebrated by the whole animal management team. As with all welfare agencies, if Council is unable to find an alternative home for the unclaimed, unregistered cats or dogs and where the impounding facilities are at full capacity, the animals will be euthanised. There are a number of causal factors for the euthanasia of cats and dogs, but these may be broadly summarised as a lack of responsible pet ownership. The fact that the cats and dogs are lost or roaming, the absence of their identification, the fact that they have not been cared for appropriately and are left with health and behavioural issues - can all be prevented through responsible companion animal care. Euthanasia is a shame, but it is not Council's shame. While the animals are in the care of Council, staff and volunteers ensure that their physical and mental well being is maintained.

ACTION: Continue to explore partnerships with suitably qualified and approved cat and dog specific organisations which share the same values and objectives as the Animal Management Centre.

4.2 Manage disease transmission at the Animal Management Centre

Logan City Council's Animal Management Centre has implemented a number of strategies to limit the incidence and transmission of zoonotic diseases. Strategies to ensure the good health of animals while in care include:

� Vaccination of all dogs on impound (for some dogs this will be the only vaccination they receive in their lifetime)

� Treatment of dogs to prevent kennel cough transmission � Treatment of cats to prevent cat flu transmission � One animal per kennel or cat cage � Regular kennel and cattery cleaning regime � Isolation of animals showing symptoms of illness � Use of on-site veterinarians to confirm suspected illness or disease


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� Use of chemically treated mats at entry and exit points of the kennels to prevent disease such as canine Parvo-virus being "walked in" to the facility

� Bio-chemical clean of vehicles between animal collections. In addition to the measures implemented at the Animal Management Centre, staff will receive training in recognising the symptoms of diseases that are common to domestic animals. Cross contamination opportunities are restricted by limiting the handling of symptomatic animals.

ACTION: Continue to manage disease transmission at the Animal Management Centre by seeking advice and conducting research to ensure current methods of prevention are best practice.

Continue to provide appropriate staff training in recognising the symptoms of diseases that are common to domestic animals and livestock.

4.3 Volunteer and Foster Care Program This Council approved program is designed to enhance the quality of life for Logan City Council's sale and impounded animals. The role of volunteers and foster carers is to undertake tasks not generally performed by employees which provide enrichment and socialisation opportunities for cats and dogs. The animals included in Council's Sale Program are behaviourally assessed and vet checked prior to their being given a second chance in the re-homing program. Before being re-homed, the animals may have been kennelled for up to eight to ten days and need to be exercised (walked) daily to maintain their mental and physical state. Bathing and grooming of the animals is also required as well as stimulation and/or human interaction and socialising. This socialisation work is carried out by the Animal Care and Well-Being volunteers and foster carers and ensures animals receive the highest quality of care prior to their being sold or re-homed. Longer term impounded dogs that have been seized, require exercise and where appropriate and safe to do so, these dogs will be walked and bathed. Once fully conversant with the requirements of responsible animal management, the volunteers may also serve as roving ambassadors in community education and awareness at any of Logan's dog off-leash areas or similar training promotions such as seminars to help owners of barking dogs remedy the problem.

ACTION: 2013: Expand the Foster Care Program to include adult

dogs which are fostered in the short term to


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overcome minor behavioural or health issues before being returned to the Council's Sale Program.

4.4 Social media and key community messages To assist in the community education process, Council has compiled information and educational materials which are able to be accessed as follows:

� Council's web site www.logan.qld.gov.au; � Libraries and Customer Service Centres; � Newspapers and radio advertisements; � Rates and dog registration renewal notices; and � Through animal management staff.

This information has been developed with the aim of promoting safe and responsible pet ownership within the Logan City. The vast popularity of social media networks such as facebook and twitter means that social media is now entrenched as an immediate, low cost and effective medium for businesses to communicate information with the wider community. Facebook has proven to present Animal and Pest Services Branch with a huge opportunity for informing the public about events, animals for sale, and general educational information. The benefit of social media lies in the efficiency and relative low cost in sharing information compared with traditional mediums such as print advertising or direct mail outs. In addition to the opportunities and benefits presented by social media, there are risks associated with its use. As a local government entity, there are strict regulations on the type of information that Council can share, or comment on publicly and the absence of control of information once it is released in the public domain present risks to the image and integrity of programs delivered by Council.

ACTION: 2013: Investigate greater use social media for community messaging to promote responsible pet ownership and regulatory requirements eg registration details, enclosure requirements, use of dog off leash areas, vaccination and desexing information.

4.5 Animal Management Centre Tours The introduction of tours of the Animal Management Centre on a weekly roster provides the opportunity for the community to gain an informed opinion of the work undertaken.

ACTION: 2013: Publicise the availability of Animal Management

Centre Tours on electronic media including facebook and other forms of social media.


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4.6 Community Partnerships Through its daily operations the Animal and Pest Services Branch has established productive working relationships with key stakeholders such as the State Government, Local Government authorities, the University of Qld and industry groups including the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Working Dogs Rescue, Little Paws Kitten Rescue, Dogs Qld and recognised cat/feline associations. As part of the development and implementation of animal keeping local laws, the Animal and Pest Services Branch has established and built on relationships with community interest groups, hobby associations, clubs and individuals who have a passionate interest in responsible pet ownership. Productive partnerships facilitate collaboration and cooperation between Council and the community it serves, assist in the management of unclaimed animals and result in the development of best practice for the management and regulation of animal keeping in Logan.

ACTION: 2013 Continue to engage with associations and clubs that share the same values as the Animal Management Centre with a view to maximising rehoming opportunities for unclaimed and surrendered domestic animals and livestock.

4.7 RSPCA Queensland Million Paws Walk

In May 2013 the RSPCA Million Paws Walk (MPW) was held in Logan for the first time. Hosted by Logan City Council, the MPW is one of the RSPCA’s most popular outdoor events for dog lovers. Participants and their dogs undertook a 2km or 3km walk around the Logan Gardens parkland.

The event also included entertainment, exhibitors and animal demonstrations. Revenue raised through registrations and donations is used to fund programs and services provided by the RSPCA Queensland.

Hosting the event reinforces the relationship between RSPCA Queensland and Logan City Council and supports Council’s Active Logan framework by encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.

ACTION: 2013 Continue to stage the RSPCA Million Paws Walk annually in Logan City.

` Review venue and staffing resources and required sponsorship annually.

Revise the RSPCA Queensland/Logan City Council Memorandum of Understanding to include the staging of Million Paws Walk annually in Logan City and specify each party's commitments in this regard.


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5. Key Issue: Local Law Enforcement

5.1. Local Laws In December 2011 Logan City Council introduced the amended Local Law 4 (Animal Management) 2002 and Subordinate Local Law 4.1 (Animal Management) 2002. Key changes implemented with the revised laws related to the regulation of excess animal keeping; the introduction of mandatory desexing as well as enclosures for cats. Since the introduction of the amended Local Laws, Council has been monitoring resident’s feedback and the operational application of the laws to inform a planned review.

ACTION: 2013: Amend Local Law 4 (Animal Management) 2002 and Subordinate Local Law 4.1 (Animal Management) 2002, and Subordinate Local Law 9.15 (Kennels and Catteries) to address the operational and administrative issues identified to date.

5.2. Kennel and Cattery Licensing Following a corporate review of Council's services in 2012, the assessment and continuing compliance associated with kennel and cattery licensing was transferred to the Animal and Pest Services Branch. Prior to this, the responsibility for licensing applications including assessments, renewals, transfer, compliance inspections and complaints was shared by three separate Branches:

� Development Assessment; � Environment and Sustainability; and � City Standards.

As none of these branches carried staff with specific knowledge or expertise of cats and dogs, it was determined that Council would provide best service to residents of Logan by shifting the management of kennel licensing to the Animal and Pest Services Branch. To ensure respective planning and environmental considerations were not overlooked, the Development Assessment and Environment and Sustainability Branches have continued to provide advice on their respective areas of expertise. Following the transfer of Licensing, the Animal Management Program undertook a whole of city inspection of all current kennel and cattery licences and reviewed the attaching administrative procedures.


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ACTION: 2013 Continue the inspection of all kennel and cattery licensed properties as part of the annual renewal process

ACTION: 2013 Investigate the viability of the implementation of a “5

Paws” kennel rating standard for commercial kennels.

ACTION: 2013 Reinstate the control of ‘Animal Vending’ into the

licensing structure.

5.3. Complaints and appeals Logan City Council's aim is to deliver customer service advice which provides a clear process for customers who wish to make a complaint, or to appeal a decision. Council also has an obligation and duty of care to staff members to provide a safe work environment and to take all reasonable steps to protect staff from customers who behave in a manner that is threatening, intimidating or offensive. The manner in which a Council decision is communicated is relevant to whether a complaint is lodged. When a formal complaint in writing is received about an officer or a decision, the matter is investigated by a supervisor and a written response is provided on the issue. Where the complainant is not satisfied with this outcome further recourse is available through the Queensland Ombudsman. Accurate record keeping of the original decision, reasons for this decision together with responses from the resident provide critical information for supervisors to respond in a timely and satisfactory manner.

ACTION: 2013: Monitor and review implementation of mandatory voice recording of all field officer interaction with residents.

ACTION: 2013 Identify opportunities for new staff to attend

Queensland Ombudsman Good Decisions Training, and for refresher training to be held for existing staff.

ACTION: 2013 Conduct annual refresher training in dealing with

difficult situations for Animal Management Program staff.


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Conduct an annual review of the field compliance manual to ensure documented procedures are consistent and in alignment with operational activities

6. .Key Issue: Planning ahead

6.1. Future Development of 213 Queens Rd Kingston

In December 2012 Logan City Council purchased the 9,562m² vacant land immediately adjacent to the existing Animal Management Centre. This strategic acquisition was to allow planning for future service delivery. The Animal and Pest Services Branch is working to create a staged site development plan to meet current and future community needs while exploring opportunities for external partnerships and grant funding.

ACTION: 2013 Develop a Master Plan for the future development of the acquired land for approval by Council's Strategic, Leadership and Planning Team.

6.2. Undertake planning for animals in new communities (such as Yarrabilba, Greater Flagstone and Park Ridge).

While Council recognised 213 Queens Road, Kingston as the primary location for delivering animal management services, it is acknowledged that planning for animals in new communities is required. To this end, Animal Management will work closely with Logan Waste Services and other interested stakeholders to identify future requirements with a view to co-location in an area that will service new communities.

ACTION: 2013 Work closely with Divisional Councillors and other stakeholders to identify suitable locations for future co-located premises to serve the needs of new communities such as Yarrabilba, Greater Flagstone and Park Ridge.


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6.3. Disaster management planning and recovery In the event of a natural disaster, pet owners have a duty of care to ensure that the needs of their pets can be met. Following the Australia Day flood event in 2012, Logan City Council identified that many residents in the Logan community would be unprepared, or unable, to meet the welfare needs of their pets in the event of a large scale natural disaster. As a result, a clear need for strategies relevant to pet and animal management both during a disaster event as well as throughout the recovery period was established. A key element is to ensure that the Animal Management community education program for disaster preparation emphasises the need for pet owners to plan what they would do with their pets, if an evacuation was necessary.

ACTION: 2013 Review the Animal Management disaster planning manual to include the recovery phase.

Finalise the selection of evacuation centres and

implement specific recovery plan for each centre.

animal management strategy revised edition 2013 …€¦ · logan city council animal management...

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