Resident backlash drives tighter pet laws in Glenelg Shire

Unregistered pet owners whose dogs are off-leash, or whose cats are found to be roaming between 7pm and 7am, could face fines of up to $900 under new pet management rules adopted by Glenelg Shire Council.

Other changes to the policy include updated zones clarifying leash requirements in popular dog walking areas. 

New on-leash pathways have been introduced between the Portland foreshore and Henty Beach, while playgrounds and parts of Henty Beach remain prohibited for dogs.

What happened? The new guidelines, adopted in December as part of the council’s 2026-2029 Domestic Animal Management plan, come in the wake of community calls for stricter pet controls.

Change in concerns: Dogs once attracted the most complaints, but frustration has now shifted to cats, according to Councillor Michael Carr.

“Four years ago, all of our complaints and feedback were in relation to dogs, dogs off-lead and things like that,” Carr said.

“Now the tables have turned and all our complaints are about cats. The dogs aren’t a problem anymore, but we probably do ask the community to start looking after your cats, specifically at night when they’re out hunting.”

Calls for harsher laws: Council staff say public submissions showed "strong support" for mandatory containment, desexing, microchipping and higher penalties for non-compliance.

Others called for better education, clearer communication with registration reminders and support for responsible owners, including concessions, desexing vouchers and low-cost veterinary services.

The damage caused by cats roaming overnight includes threats to wildlife and native birds through hunting, as well as injuries to other cats during fights.

If an owner cannot be confirmed, trapped cats are taken to the Glenelg Shire Animal Welfare Centre and may be transferred to the Warrnambool animal welfare facility for ongoing care if they are not collected within 72 hours.