Do you keep an animal in the Eurobodalla?
Here’s what you need to know.
Draft Local Orders Policy - Keeping of Animals.
Did you know there are around 29 million domestic pets in Australia? That’s about two million more than there are people. In 2022, almost one in every two households kept a dog while one in every three households kept a cat. That’s around 6.4 million dogs and 5.3 million cats in Australia (Pets in Australia, A national survey of pets and people, Animal Medicines Australia, 2022). That’s not the end of the story. People also keep other animals as domestic pets like horses, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, chickens, rabbits, birds and fish.
Domestic pets often escape and become a problem for other people and our natural environment. Did you know that there were estimated to be up to 5.6 million feral cats in Australia in 2020 (DCCEEW.gov.au).That’s even more than domestic cats. In addition, there are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of feral dogs, about half a million feral horses, two million feral goats and three million feral pigs in Australia today.
In the Eurobodalla Shire, there were around 23,000 dogs and 6,000 cats registered on 30 June 2023, with an additional estimated 30,000 unregistered domestic animals including chickens, birds, fish, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits and goats. There are around 40,000 people living in the Eurobodalla. Feral animals damage the natural environment and the wildlife we love so much in the Eurobodalla. They carry diseases that can harm people and the environment.
Sometimes people are unable to care for their pets. Older people may need to give up their pets when they move into a nursing home. Renters may find it hard to find a rental property that will accept their pets and may need to give them up, and when people die, their pets may need a new home. Other problems include not desexing cats and dogs, which can increase pet populations quickly, often requiring pet adoption by other people.
Eurobodalla Shire Council acknowledges that pets can be an important part of people’s lives and pet ownership comes with responsibilities that aim to protect pet’s health and safety and the health and safety of the environment and other people.
The Council provides a lot of information on its website (esc.nsw.gov.au/residents/pets) including information on registration, microchipping and desexing, responsible ownership, dog-friendly and prohibited beaches, and the pound. Make sure you take a look and be a responsible pet owner.
Eurobodalla Shire Council’s draft Local Orders Policy – Keeping of Animals is open for public consultation. Council will accept submissions on the draft until Thursday 18 September 2025, 5pm, in accordance with the Local Government Act. The draft Policy provides guidelines for residents on what is considered the appropriate number and type of animals that may be kept, in clean and safe conditions. The draft Policy also outlines criteria by which Council can determine regulatory or compliance action.
The draft Local Orders Policy – Keeping of Animals 2025 is unchanged from the Local Orders Policy – Keeping of Animals 9 August 2022. The draft policy recommends the following number of animals that may be kept.
The maximum number of dogs shall be limited to two (2) adults and one (1) litter of pups up to six (6) months old per premise in urban areas. The maximum number of dogs other than greyhounds shall be limited to four (4) adults and one (1) litter of pups up to six (6) months old per premise in rural areas. The maximum number of greyhounds shall be limited to four (4) adults and one (1) litter of pups up to thirteen (13) months old in rural areas.
The maximum number of cats shall be limited to four (4) per premise.
The maximum number of poultry and fowl shall be limited to ten (10) per premises subject to other conditions. Roosters are cannot be kept where crowing may cause offensive noise.
The maximum number of birds (other than pigeons, poultry and fowl) allowed to be kept in urban areas shall be as appropriate for the species, enclosure size, proximity to neighbours etc. Pigeons have special conditions related to hygiene and noise.
The maximum number of swine, goats or sheep to be kept in urban areas shall be limited to two (2) subject to other conditions.
Only two (2) horses or cattle may be kept on any premises on urban land subject to other conditions.
The maximum number of rabbits shall be limited to one (1) per premise, while the maximum number of ferrets shall be limited to two (2) per premise.
To keep one or more beehives in NSW, you are required to register as a beekeeper with the Department of Primary Industries.
How to give your feedback
To make a submission before 5pm, Thursday, 18 September 2025, you can:
- write a letter addressed to:
- The General Manager
- PO Box 99, Moruya NSW 2537
- email council@esc.nsw.gov.au
- use the online feedback form