A new proposal to amend the reporting of the numbers of dogs and cats put down in municipal shelters will be supported by the City of Ballarat.
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The state government will introduce mandatory reporting requirements for its Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds.
The code collates data on animals kept and euthanased in pounds and shelters across Victoria, including data relating to the date, reason and method of any animal euthanased. These records must be maintained for a minimum of five years.
The City of Ballarat maintains an animal shelter in Gillingham Place. The council says it will support the changes to the code.
"The City of Ballarat wholeheartedly supports legislation that helps protect vulnerable animals and ensures a humane approach," council's director of development and growth Natalie Robertson said.
"Our submission will be in support of any changes that promote transparency around animals in our care, and we will continue to document and provide all information required under proposed mandatory reporting of animal fate data."
The Victorian Government says the changes are part of its commitment to improving transparency in the management of dogs and cats in shelters and pounds, allowing the government to compile and publish a report on the fate of animals admitted to and cared for within Victoria's shelter and pound system.
Record keeping on dogs and cats cared for in a pound or shelter is already a strict code requirement, the government says, and in preparing to amend the code, it is seeking feedback from stakeholders interested, involved or experienced in dog and cat rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming.
The Courier contacted the RSPCA for a statement to the proposed amendments but did not receive a response.
Anyone wishing to share in the consultation process can find more information at https://engage.vic.gov.au/mandatory-reporting-animal-fate-data-shelters-and-pounds