Pet owners face harsh new reality in Bendigo

Pet owners will have one month to object to sweeping changes to cat and dog ownership rules, as Bendigo council puts ratepayers on notice. See the changes.

“Here kitty, kitty,” are words you can expect to hear a lot more often in Bendigo next year, if sweeping changes are given the green light by the local council.

Cat owners will be forced to keep their felines on their property 24 hours per day in the municipality, and dogs on leashes except in designated areas.

The changes are a radical shift from the existing rules, which compel pet owners to keep cats inside only overnight. All outdoor areas are off considered off-leash for dogs.

A Bendigo cat, named Bunny, at home.

City of Greater Bendigo Councillor Julie Sloan stressed the rules would not mean cats would be indoors at all times, rather that they would need to be kept on the property.

It would mean pet owners will have to round up their cats if they began to leave the property.

Mayor Andrea Metcalf said residents would have until February to comment on the changes.

“Greater Bendigo is currently a default off-leash municipality but we are proposing to make it a default on-leash municipality and introduce new designated areas where dogs can be exercised off-leash,” she said.

“I encourage all interested people to view the orders and proposed designated off-leash areas on the City’s Let’s Talk website where they can also provide feedback.”