City of Palmerston’s new Animal Management By-Laws remain open for consultation until 12 February 2024, with feedback from the community encouraged. 

The process of creating new Animal Management By-Laws began with community consultation in 2021, where feedback was used to develop the new By-Laws, which include the following key changes:

• Embracing modern and contemporary practices based on community expectations;
• Provisions for management and ownership of cats and other animals;
• A review of prescribed penalties in relation to offences;
• Improvements to licensing requirements and the registration of dangerous animals; and
• Compulsory microchipping for cats and dogs.

Since the current community consultation period opened on 15 January 2024, passionate conversations have been had in-person at public information sessions in Palmerston.

Palmerston residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming Palmerston Animal Management Network meeting at Council Chambers on Thursday 8 February at 5pm, which will be the final information session as part of the current community consultation. 

Community feedback has been received from both animal and non-animal owners via its online survey. Quotes from individual survey respondents include:

• “The registration for cats needs to be free or minimal as the management of them is so little compared to dogs.”
• “I think this is a huge step in the right direction. Owners need to be made responsible for their animals.”
• “The focus should be on responsible ownership of livestock. It's entirely possible to manage livestock responsibly on less than 1 hectare of land.”

City of Palmerston Mayor, Athina Pascoe-Bell recognises that new, contemporary Animal Management By-Laws are required for Palmerston. "We have worked with government and utilised previous community feedback to develop modern By-Laws that we think will move us forward as a community to live in harmony with all animals and promote better animal ownership and care.”

"The new By-Laws are key in assisting City of Palmerston to create a positive and safe environment for animals as well as reducing the risk to the community of nuisance or dangerous animal behaviour. We'd now like to inform the community of key changes and invite any further feedback,” she said.

The community is encouraged to provide feedback until 12 February 2024. Following this consultation, the By-Laws are scheduled to be implemented on 1 July 2024.

For more information and to provide feedback online, visit palmerston.nt.gov.au/by-law-review 

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Media contact: 08 8935 9922 or media@palmerston.nt.gov.au