Community members invited to have their say on draft Dog Incident Policy

The aim of this Policy is to ensure that the approach is consistent and transparent, meaning that community members will know what to expect from Council's Local Laws Officers in situations where they are attacked by a dog, as well as in situations where their dog attacks a person or another animal. 

While this Policy is operational by nature and bound by the Domestic Animal Act 1994, community members are invited to review the content of the Policy and provide feedback to be considered before it is adopted by Councillors later this year.

Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas said that the Policy aims to create and maintain safer communities across Alpine Shire.

"We know that dogs and other pets are valued members of many families across our region," she said.

"But we also know that, while being menaced or attacked by a dog doesn't always result in a physical injury, it can often result in lifelong trauma where people become scared of seeing dogs or being around them in public."

Cr Nicholas also acknowledged that, while it is the responsibility of the owner to train their dog, sometimes owners may not recognise that their dog is capable of attacking a person or another dog.

"Our Local Laws Officers want to help owners recognise the traits of aggressive dogs," she said.

"A lot of people may not realise that aggressive behaviour includes growling, rushing, nipping, or biting people or other animals.

"By increasing understanding around what constitutes aggressive behaviour, our Local Laws Officers can also help owners to understand their responsibilities both at home and out in their communities."

The draft Policy can be accessed online by visiting Council's Engage Alpine page: https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/dog-incident-policy

The draft Policy is available for review and feedback from now until Thursday, 30 April 2026.