Apassionate group of community campaigners met on Saturday morning to discuss dog and cat management in Mount Gambier.

Twenty members of the Mount Gambier Residents and Ratepayers Association gathered to discuss the Blue Lake city’s current approach to pet management, following City Council’s joint decision with Grant District Council to end a tripartite pound and re-homing agreement with the South East Animal Welfare League.

The councils are now providing the services in-house primarily for dogs, while the SEAWL continues unfunded by the councils and re-homes a variety of animals, including many cats.

The group had independent moderator Di Ind lead the discussions, with the information to be collated and passed to Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Sarah Philpott.

All City Council elected members were invited to attend the meeting, with only Councillor Jason Virgo attending and Cr Paul Jenner submitting an apology.

SEAWL members attended the meeting and outlined their plans for the future as well as concerns for the wellbeing of animals impounded by the councils.

Much of the discussion centre on the council’s Dog and Cat Management Plan, which is currently being drafted by City Council, with another community meeting to be held tomorrow to seek input.

Those attending the meeting resolved to make their voices heard via council’s website and plan to attend tomorrow’s community consultation session, as well as advocate for a sustainable dog and cat management plan.

Tomorrow’s council consultation session is being held to seek community input to identify and understand the priorities for dog and cat management in Mount Gambier as council develops the draft Dog and Cat Management Plan 2024 – 2028.

In South Australia the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 governs the management of dogs and cats in the community.

Section 26A of the Act requires local government to develop a Dog and Cat Management Plan within their local area every five years.