The removal of animal droppings within public space is the responsibility of the owner, who must have in their possession a bag, container or other means of removing the excrement.

The owner must produce this means upon request, as failure to do so may result in a fine.

Animal Litter: Local Laws No. 3

1. No person in charge of a dog may allow any part of the dog's excrement to remain on any road, or municipal place.
    
2. Any person in charge of a dog in a municipal place must have at all times in their possession bags, containers or other facility for removal of that dog’s excrement from the municipal place or road and must produce such facility upon the request of an authorised officer.
    
3. No person in charge of a horse may allow any part of the horse's excrement to remain on any road or municipal place, when specifically requested by the Council or an authorised officer to remove the excrement.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

Health & Environmental Impacts

Some impacts of failing to clean up after your dog are as follows:

Health impacts to dogs

• Parvo—virus, Distemper.
• Canine Hepatitis, Hookworm.
• Roundworm, Tapeworm and Whipworm.

Health impacts to humans

• Hookworm, Tapeworm, Roundworm and Whipworm.
• Eye infections, throat infections and gastroenteritis from swimming in polluted waterways.

Environmental impacts

• Washed into stormwater drains results in pollution of fresh waterways and spilling out into our oceans.
• Effecting marine life and regularly closing the beaches due to the water being unsafe to swim in.

Amenity impacts

• Unsightliness.
• Flies and Insect breeding.
• Smell, stepping in it, riding through it and, having your front gardens and nature strip left with “deposits” if you don’t have a front fence!

If you are affected by irresponsible dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs, a complaint can be made to Council. The following information needs to be provided to Council when making a complaint:

• Correct address of where the dog is kept.
• Relevant details to effectively action the complaint.

This information is needed so a fair and impartial investigation can be carried out. This information may also help the animal’s owner understand the effects they cause on others. Council will not respond to anonymous complaints.

Contact

Warrnambool City Council
Phone: (03) 5559 4800
Fax: (03) 5559 4900
Email: wbool_city@warrnambool.vic.gov.au