Eurobodalla Shire Council on the New South Wales South Coast has proposed a draft policy that would limit the number and types of pets households may keep, prompting an outcry from some residents and animal advocates.
The council says the measures are intended to reduce incidents of animal abuse and ensure that the keeping of animals "does not result in unhealthy or unsafe conditions or cause a nuisance to others." Under the draft policy, households in urban areas would be restricted to two adult dogs, four cats, one rabbit and two ferrets, while rural properties would be permitted higher numbers, including up to four dogs. The draft also allows two horses on urban properties provided they are kept no closer than 9 metres from a dwelling, school, shop, office, factory, workshop or church. Decisions on pet birds would be left to the discretion of investigating officers, taking into account the type of bird, and the policy would permit one registered beehive if owners register it with the Department of Primary Industries.
The proposed caps drew strong criticism in community submissions obtained by media outlets, with some residents saying limits on numbers do not address the root problem of poor animal care. "The numbers make some difference, but more focus on the owners is needed. You can have one dog or cat at a premises that is abused and poorly cared for," one submission said. Another questioned the rabbit limit, saying rabbits need social interaction: "Why can your rabbit not have a friend? And plenty of people have three well cared for dogs that are not a problem," the submission said. A third submission warned that "cats can cause more damage than one bunny."
Eurobodalla Council said concerns communicated to the council will be recorded and handled in accordance with its customer service or complaints policy. The council framed the draft limits as a welfare and public-safety measure and said community submissions will remain open until later this month.
The proposal forms part of the council's wider approach to regulating animal keeping in a shire that includes a mixture of urban townships and rural properties along the South Coast. The council's draft policy contains separate provisions for different property types, reflecting what it described as differing capacity to keep animals without causing nuisance or harm to neighbours or the animals themselves.
The draft has prompted debate among residents about where to draw the line between responsible pet ownership and regulatory limits. Some submitters argued for more targeted enforcement focused on negligent owners rather than numerical caps, while others supported limits as a tool to prevent overcrowding and associated welfare issues.
Council documentation indicates that assessing officers would exercise discretion in a number of cases, particularly for species not given an explicit numerical cap. The proposal also sets out minimum setback requirements for horses on urban properties to manage health and nuisance risks.
Eurobodalla Shire Council's announcement comes amid broader attention in Australia to animal welfare, urban densities and the compatibility of keeping livestock or multiple companion animals in residential areas. The council has not indicated a firm timetable for adoption of the policy beyond the current public consultation period. The council said it will consider community feedback before finalising any changes.