New orders for dogs, cats

Recent changes to animal control orders by Baw Baw Shire Council will see an off-leash dog area removed, greater controls for off-leash dog owners and tighter controls on cat desexing.
Dog owners in Rawson will no longer be able to let their dogs run free at St Phillack Reserve, due to an unfenced playground in the area.
Having children playing in an unfenced playground in the middle of an area where dogs are being exercised off leash was found to be unacceptable following a review by council officers.
The off-leash area at Dunstan Oval in Rawson will continue to be used by dogs and their owners.
A fenced dog park at the corner of Horsetail Way and Adiantum Rd, Drouin, known as Ferntree Ridge Dog Park has been included as a new designated off-leash area in the orders.
Dog owner obligations in designated off-leash areas also have been expanded.
These now include obligations for dog owners to remain close enough to the dog to be able to immediately bring it under effective control, and to put the dog on lead when it is within 20 metres of an area being used for an organised sporting or practice event, an unfenced children's play or exercise equipment area, an area where an organised public meeting is being held and an unfenced permanent barbecue or picnic area.
Cr Suzanne Allen said having clear, legally sound and easy to understand animal control orders made it easier for people to comply and for council to fairly and consistently administer them.
"It provides clearer expectations for owners to maintain effective control of their dogs around playgrounds, sporting events and picnic areas. These are practical commonsense measures that balance the enjoyment of dog owners with the safety of everyone else using these public spaces."
Previous animal control orders stated that within the shire there was an exemption for desexing cats less than six months old.
However, cats need to be registered and desexed from three months old.
The order has been changed to reflect the regulation and will formally come into effect on September 1.