Deceased, sick or injured animals

How to report animals on roads or public land

If you see wandering, sick, injured or dead animals on the roads or public land, contact the relevant service below.

Sick or injured native animals

Contact Wildlife Victoria

Report sick or injured wildlife on public land or roads to Wildlife Victoria.

If the case is urgent, call the Emergency Response Service hotline on 03 8400 7300.

Otherwise, report a wildlife emergency online. The service is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sick, injured or lost domestic animals

Contact us 

For more information on what to do if you find a stray cat, dog or other pet, visit our Report a found pet page.

Wandering livestock on local roads

Contact us

To report stray livestock, please call us on 03 9217 2170 or email info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au. If it's after hours, you will be connected to our after-hours service.

Wandering livestock on main roads

Contact VicRoads

If you see wandering livestock on a freeway, highway or declared arterial road, contact VicRoads on 13 11 70.

Dead animals on public land and roads

Contact us

We'll collect any deceased animal found on public land, regardless of whether it is a wild, domestic, or farm animal.

If the animal is a dog or cat, we'll check for an identification tag or microchip and use this information to notify the owner.

Call us on 03 9217 2170 and we'll come collect the animal.

Dead animals on VicRoads (declared) roads and property

Contact VicRoads

VicRoads is responsible for removing dead animals on declared VicRoads roads and property, such as freeways, highways and arterial roads.

To report dead animals on declared roads contact VicRoads on 13 11 70.

Frequently asked questions

What if the animal is on private property?

Unfortunately we can't assist if the animal is dead or injured on private property.

The land owner or tenant is responsible for dead or injured animals that are on private property.

Search for animal disposal services online.

Can you help outside of business hours?

Here’s what services our Animal Management department can provide, depending on the time of day.

Weekdays: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

  • Respond to wandering dogs.
  • Collection of contained dogs or cats (they must be restrained or unable to escape).

Emergency service: operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week

  • Attend to injured animals.
  • Respond to dog attacks.
  • Attend to livestock on roads.

Call us on 03 9217 2170. If it's after hours, you will be connected to our after-hours service.