Owning a dog
Owning a dog
As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to know your legal obligations and comply with the laws concerning the management of your dog.
The Dog Control Act 1996 sets out the obligations for dog owners. Its purpose is to ensure dogs are well cared for, that accidents, attacks and injuries to people, wildlife, and other animals are minimised and that the potential for dog-related nuisance is reduced. It also sets out penalties for not complying with the Act.
The Council has adopted a Dog Control Policy and Dog Control Bylaw, which are made under the Dog Control Act.
Microchipping
All dogs must be microchipped within two months of being registered for the first time.
Microchip numbers are recorded in the National Dog Database and used to identify your dog if it is found.
Working dogs, meaning dogs kept solely or principally for the purposes of herding or driving stock, are exempt from the requirement to be microchipped.
Remission Policy for Owners of More than Five dogs.
Owners of five or more dogs may be granted a remission so that they will pay no more than the total cost of registering five dogs.
The aim of this policy is to ensure that dog registration fees are collected in a way that is fair and equitable, taking into account the service that is provided to all dog owners.
To be eligible for a remission under this Policy, dog owners must:
- Be the registered owner of more than five dogs;
- Pay their registration fee before 1 August
- Not have been issued with an infringement notice issued under the Dog Control Act 1996 or Council’s Dog Control Policy or Bylaw within the preceding financial year; and
- Not be classed as a probationary or disqualified dog owner.
