Dog owners

Owning a dog comes with a number of responsibilities including desexing, microchipping, annual registrations, and appropriate socialisation and care.

There are legal responsibilities of a dog owner.

It is also important to select the right breed for your lifestyle and continuing those responsibilities throughout your dog’s life, particularly when taking your companion out into public spaces.

Find more information about dog ownership at Dog and Cat Management Board.

When in a public space your dog must remain on a lead. Dogs can, however, be exercised off-lead in Council parks, unless otherwise signed, provided that you have effective control of your dog. Having effective control of your dog means all of the following:

1. your dog responds immediately to voice command
2. your dog remains in close proximity to you
3. you can see your dog at all times.

When taking your dog out in public, it's your responsibility to immediately pick up and adequately dispose of your dog’s faeces.

We provide dog bag dispensers at many of our recreation parks for your convenience. Failure to comply with this responsibility may incur a $210.00 fee.

Our By-Law 5 - Dogs states that up to two (2) dogs are allowed per property within townships, and up to three (3) dogs are allowed per property on rural or rural living properties.

Limits do not apply to rural properties where dogs are registered as 'working dogs' and their main purpose is tending or droving of stock.

If you wish to keep more than the number of dogs stated in our By-Law 5 - Dogs, you can apply for an excess dog permit.