Restrictions easing from 11:59pm 27 October 2020

From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 2020 some restrictions in metropolitanMelbourne and regional Victoria are easing. See the Premier’s metropolitanstatement and the regional Victoria roadmap summary for details. This pagewill be updated as more information is made available.

Looking after animals and pets

Can I take my animal to the vet?

Yes, you can take an animal to the vet if there is a genuine animal welfareissue.

You should stay close to home where possible, but you may travel beyond 25kmto the nearest provider.

You should check in with your veterinary clinic ahead of your appointment asclinics are operating with new rules to ensure they meet physical distancingrequirements. You are also required to wear a face mask.

If you are unwell, or are in quarantine or isolation, contact your veterinarypractitioner by phone for advice on what to do to ensure your animal gets thecare it needs. You must not leave home.

Can I leave home to pick up a new pet?

Yes. You can leave your home to collect a pet you have already purchased. Ifyou are adopting from an animal shelter or pound, you are not required to havealready purchased your pet.

Once you collect your pet, you must return home immediately afterwards. Animalshelters and pounds are open by appointment only. You should contact thelocation to arrange an appointment and ensure you can follow their processesfor reducing the risk of transmitting coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you are picking up a pet you should keep at least 1.5 metres betweenyourself and others and practice good hygiene, including washing your handsregularly. You are also required to wear a face mask.

You may travel more than 25km from your home to collect a pet, but the travelcannot be unreasonable. As with other necessary goods, it must be the closestpractical location.

Can I leave home to care for animals located on property other than my

place of residence?

Yes, including on property greater than 25km from your usual residence, butyou should limit travel where you can.

If you need to leave home to attend to your animals, the restrictions travelwith you and so you need to abide by the same rules as if you were at home.You should wear a mask and practise good hygiene, including washing andsanitising hands before and after handling animals and their equipment,bedding or food.

I live in metropolitan Melbourne. Can I travel more than 25km from home to

care for animals and/or bees or feed livestock located on property other thanmy place of residence?

Yes, you can leave home to care for your animals or bees, if it is necessaryto do so and you are not able to make alternative arrangements. This includestravelling beyond 25km from home or leaving metropolitan Melbourne for thispurpose. Please be mindful that you may be required to provide evidence (aboutyour animals/insects and their location) for leaving restricted areas aspolice are conducting spot checks.

If you need to leave home to attend to your animals or bees, the restrictionstravel with you and so you need to abide by the same rules as if you were athome. You should wear a face mask and practise good hygiene, including washingand sanitising hands before and after handling animals and their equipment,bedding or food.

Can I walk someone else’s dog?

Walking pets that you do not live with is only permitted where there is agenuine animal welfare concern and the owner is physically unable to completethese activities themselves.

I am a dog walker in metropolitan Melbourne, can I continue my work?

No, dog walkers cannot operate. If a pet’s welfare is impacted due to anurgent requirement for walking, the owner should consult with a veterinarian.

Can I look for my lost pet at the council animal shelter or pound?

If you have lost a pet, first call your council to check and if your pet isthere, follow their instructions to arrange for its return.

If your pet is in a pound outside of metropolitan Melbourne, you can go andcollect it, however the metropolitan Melbourne restrictions travel with you,and so you need to abide by the same rules as if you were at home (i.e. SecondStep to easing restrictions apply to you).

Check the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector guidance.

Can I take or surrender a pet to a council animal shelter or pound?

Yes, under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, council animal shelters and poundsmust accept surrendered animals.

If you have found a lost pet or need to surrender a pet, first call yourcouncil and follow their instructions.

Can I still call wildlife rescue?

Yes. Wildlife rescue services continue to operate under current restrictionsfor emergency rescue, care and transport of injured wildlife.

Can wildlife rescue and care networks continue to operate?

Yes. The emergency rescue, care and transport of injured wildlife cancontinue. If you are conducting wildlife rescue or care you should keep atleast 1.5 metres between yourself and others and practice good hygiene,including washing your hands regularly. You are also required to wear a facemask.

Can pet rescue, rehoming groups and community foster care networks

continue to operate?

Yes, pet rescue, rehoming groups and community foster care networks cancontinue to operate with some limitations.

Pets can still be transported to and from a place of care, including to afoster carer, if there is a genuine animal welfare issue. In-personprospective home inspections or meet and greets are not permitted. Virtualhome inspections or meet and greets may provide a useful alternative.

For those people undertaking activities on behalf of your organisation outsideof their homes, the organisation must issue a permitted worker permit.

Workplaces that remain open must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place that isregularly updated (unless there are fewer than five workers at the workpremises).

Workplaces that remain open must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place that isregularly updated.

Are pet breeder services allowed to deliver?

Yes, pets that have been purchased can be delivered to their new home. Youmust discuss the requirements for the new pet via video or phone prior to thedelivery, to minimise the time the hand-over takes. The person delivering thepet must have a Permitted Worker Permit to be able to carry out the delivery.

Always maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres between yourself and otherpeople when delivering a pet and wear a face mask.

When will pet grooming open?

Retail pet groomers are permitted to provide contactless service to theirclients if there is an animal welfare need. From 11:59pm on Sunday 18 October2020, mobile pet grooming services or businesses that operate from residentialproperties or a permitted retail venue can provide a contactless service totheir clients.

Pet owners can drop off their pets to the venue, and then pick them up whenthe service is completed, similar to other forms of “click and collect”services.

When can mobile pet grooming resume?

From 11:59pm on Sunday 18 October 2020, mobile pet grooming services orbusinesses that operate from residential properties or a permitted retailvenue can provide a contactless service to their clients.

Can I use a pet grooming service in regional Victoria if it’s the one I

normally use and the one that’s closest to me?

You can travel into regional Victoria to use a pet grooming service at aretail store if it is your nearest provider. This does not include mobile petgrooming services or businesses that operate on residential properties. Youshould only travel beyond 25km or to regional Victoria if you need to use apet grooming service for animal welfare reasons.

There isn’t a pet grooming service within 25km of my home, what should I

do?

For some people the nearest pet grooming services will be more than 25km away.In this situation you may travel beyond 25km to the nearest provider.

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