The owner of a restricted or declared dangerous dog must comply with the control requirements listed under sections 51 and 56 of the Companion Animals Act and the relevant parts of the Regulation. These include:
- All restricted and dangerous dogs must by law be desexed.
- It is an offence to sell or give away a dangerous or restricted dog or sell or give away a dog subject to a notice of intention to declare dangerous or restricted.
- The dog must not at any time be in the sole charge of a person under 18 years of age.
- While the dog is on the property on which the dog is ordinarily kept, the dog must be kept in an enclosure that complies with the requirements prescribed by the regulations
- Warning signs: One or more signs with the words 'Warning Dangerous Dog' must be clearly displayed on the property and be clearly visible from the boundaries of the property.
- Whenever the dog is outside its prescribed enclosure, the dog:
- Must be under the effective control of some competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash that is attached to the dog and held by (or secured to) the person.
- Must be muzzled in a manner that is sufficient to prevent it from biting any animal or person.
- Collar: Dangerous and restricted dogs must at all times wear a distinctive red and yellow striped collar of the prescribed design. Council can advise you of suppliers.
Council can advise you of these requirements in full.
Failure to comply
An owner can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of $1,320 for failure to comply with any of the above control requirements. A maximum penalty of $16,500 can apply if the owner failures to comply with any one of the control requirements of sections 51 or 56 of the Act.
Dependent on the circumstances, these offences may also result in the seizure and destruction of a dog.
Restricted dog owners need to know that their dog(s) may be seized and destroyed in the following circumstances:
- If an authorised officer is satisfied that any of the control requirements outlined in section 56 of the Act have not been complied with.