Animal complaints

Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs, and an important means of communication. However, when dogs bark excessively, they become a nuisance to their owners and the neighbourhood.

Dogs can bark for a variety of reasons, so identifying the underlying causes and triggers for the barking will help determine the most appropriate training techniques and solutions to reduce excessive barking.

What to do

Neighbours

• First, try talking to the dog owner; they may not know that their dog is barking.
• If the issue can’t be resolved by speaking directly with the dog owner, contact Council and we go through with you how a Barking Dog Diary may be used to assist educating the dog owner. Barking Dog Diaries can be used to record frequency and duration of barking dogs.(PDF, 546KB)
• Barking Dog Guide(PDF, 546KB)

(PDF, 546KB)Owners

• Firstly, visit the Agriculture Victoria list to determine possible causes of your dog barking, and consider a vet visit to rule out illness or injury. Ask your vet for advice on reducing barking.
• If you can identify the cause, try rewarding the dog for remaining calm and not barking. For example, if your dog barks at your local Aus post delivery person every day, try to distract your dog with a treat or toy before the delivery is due to arrive. Or restrict their access or line of sight to the delivery person or front of the home.
• If the cause is boredom or separation anxiety, walking your dog more frequently and providing routines and enrichment activities such as toys with treats hidden inside may help alleviate some of these issues.

Wandering dogs

If you own a dog, you must take responsibility for confining it safely within your property. Please visit our responsible pet ownership page for more information about your obligations to keep your dog on your property.

To report a wandering dog, or a dog attack, call Council on (03) 5348 2306.

Visit our contact us page for after-hours phone numbers.

See Animal emergencies for more information.

If you find livestock wandering on Hepburn Shire roads, please contact Council on 5348 2306.

If livestock is wandering on or near Hepburn Shire roads outside Council office hours, call our emergency after-hours number.

Please identify road names or nearby landmarks or locations, to help our staff find the animals.

If the livestock are located on a highway or major road, VicRoads should be notified on 131 170.

If you’re not sure, please call 5348 2306 to check with Council.

Property owners with inadequate fencing will be followed up and investigated by Council. Failure to comply with a Livestock Fencing Notice, may result in fines.

Council receives many complaints in relation to domestic and feral cats causing a nuisance. Council is continuing to work to reduce feral cat populations within the Shire. We ask that all cat owners play their part by keeping their cat contained to their property, especially at night, to protect your pet’s safety and that of wildlife.

Wandering cats can be a danger to local wildlife, as they can injure or kill local wildlife including ringtail possums, birds, frogs and lizards. Cats may also encounter snakes, risking injury or death.

Cat territorial disputes can also spread disease or cause injury, potentially costing money in veterinary bills and causing distress for cats and their owners.

To report a wandering cat, contact Council on (03) 5348 2306.

To arrange collection of a cat trap (see below).

Anyone intending to use a cat trap must notify nearby properties before setting the trap, by placing flyers in their letterboxes to advise that a cat trap will soon be used in the area. (These flyers are provided by Council when hiring a trap.)

Cat traps are an important part of managing the feral cat population in Hepburn Shire, along with managing stray cats. Council’s procedure when receiving complaints is to supply the complainant with a cat trap, which are generally only allowed to be set overnight, with certain restrictions.

When a cat is caught, Council should be notified as soon as possible to arrange a pick-up and delivery to Council's Animal Shelter. (Please note that cats can only be caught in Council traps, other traps are not permitted due to safety reasons.)

The RSPCA primarily investigates complaints about domestic animals and livestock, where there are less than 10 per head on the property (for example horses and hobby farm animals). The RSPCA also investigates complaints regarding cruelty to animals (for example illegal use of inhumane traps and setting of dogs on feral pigs).

A report can be made directly to the RSPCA online, or by phoning 03 9224 2222.

For welfare concerns involving commercial livestock (10 or more animals), complaints should be directed to Agriculture Victoria. Their customer service center can be contacted by calling 136 186 or emailing aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au