Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 you may be responsible for any damage or injury caused by your dog if it attacks a person or animal. Help prevent dog attacks by always supervising your dog around children or other animals.
If we receive a complaint about your dog attacking it may be declared 'dangerous' or ‘menacing’, depending on the nature of the attack.
We will notify you if this happens. If we intend to declare your dog dangerous or menacing we will send you a proposal and give you an opportunity to comment within 14 days.
If your dog is declared dangerous or menacing, strict controls apply. You must:
- Restrain the dog on your own land by keeping it indoors at all times or in an approved enclosure (specified in the Act).
- Erect approved signs on the property saying 'Warning Dangerous Dog' which are clearly visible from outside the property.
- Dog must be on leash at all times, wearing a prescribed collar and muzzled when outside your property (no exceptions).
- Owner must advise Council within 24 hours of where a change to where the dog is being kept, or if the ownership changes.
- Notify Council of prescribed events.
The leaflet Dangerous Dogs has more information.
Noisy Dogs
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 defines a nuisance being when a dog creates a noise, by barking or otherwise, which persistently occurs or continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person.
Barking dog problems are rarely solved by enforcement action and can take some time to resolve. In extreme cases the matter could be heard in front of a magistrate.
If you are annoyed by the noise from your neighbour’s dog, try to solve the problem first by talking it over with your neighbours. They may not realise their dog is causing a problem and in many cases they will be happy to do what they can to help.
If this fails, you can make a complaint to us.