Dogs

Responsible Dog Ownership

Legislative Requirements

Dog Exercise Areas

LOST.html Dogs

Found Dogs

Responsible Dog Ownership

• Microchip, register and attach a collar and identification tag with contact phone number
• Secure your dog safely on your property
• Desex your dog - Prevent potential behavioural and medical problems and unwanted pregnancies
• Provide adequate exercise and environmental enrichment
• Provide adequate shelter, fresh clean water and nutritionally enriched food
• Provide regular training and socialisation
• Contact Council to change your dogs microchip information when you move house or change ownership

Legislative Requirements

In accordance with the Companion Animals Act 1998, as amended by the Companion Animals Amendment Act 2005.
NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 (document link - http://bar.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/caa1998174/)
NSW Companion Animals Regulation 1999 (document link - http://bar.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/car1999265/)

• All dogs must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or earlier if sold or given away
• All dogs over 6 months of age must be microchipped and lifetime registered
• All dogs when outside their property must wear a collar and identification tag
• A dog that is in a public place must be under the effective control of a competent person by an adequate chain, cord or leash that is attached to the dog and that is being held by (or secured to) the person.
• Dogs must not be encouraged to attack a person or animal
• The owner or person in charge of a dog that defecates in a public place, must immediately remove the dog’s faeces and properly dispose of them.

Penalties
Below is an example of some on the spot fines for offences under the Companion Animals Act 1998.

On the spot fines

Dog attack Minimum Penalty - $550
Dog not on lead Minimum Penalty - $220
Animal not permanently identified (microchipped) Minimum Penalty - $165
Animal not registered Minimum Penalty - $165
Dog without collar and name tag Minimum Penalty - $165
Fail to remove dog faeces Minimum Penalty - $275
Penalties for above offences committed by a Dangerous dog and Restricted dog Minimum Penalty - $1320

Registration

Under the Companion Animals Act, all owners of puppies and kittens must take two steps to provide lifetime protection for their pet. These 'two steps' will help return your pet to you if it is LOST.html, hurt or stolen. Once microchipped and registered, your pet is protected for life.

Step 1

Microchip your pet
Vets, animal welfare organisations and other authorised people can microchip your cat or dog.

Step 2

Lifetime registration can be done at any local council. All NSW Councils are connected to the statewide Register.
When you register you will need:

A certificate of microchipping or a letter from your vet
Proof of desexing from your vet or a statutory declaration
Any documents which entitle you to a discount

Once only registration Fee

Registration Type	Registration Fee
Desexed cat or dog	$40
Desexed cat or dog owned by a pensioner	$15
Entire (undesexed) cat or dog	$150
Entire cat or dog owned by a registered breeder	$40
Assistance dogs	Free

Dog Barking

In the Leichhardt Council area, approximately 30% of animal complaints received from local residents are because of Barking Dogs. Dogs bark continually for a number of reasons which include but are not limited to;
• Dog chained to a fixed point with restricted movement for long period of time
• Deliberate or unintentional provocation by people or by roaming dogs
• Lack of reasonable exercise
• Lack of training
• No shelter or kennel
• Loneliness / boredom
• Lack of water or food
• Ill health
• Competition amongst neighbouring animals whereby there is inadequate separation between them.

An owner may deal with the above problems by applying a number of counter responses;
• Provide adequate space for your dog to roam in your backyard
• Provide adequate kennelling and/or shelter
• Regularly walk your dog and provide adequate exercise
• Provide “dog time”. Your dog is a pack animal and requires socialisation and environmental enrichment
• Provide adequate food and water
• Regularly worm your dog and ensure that her/his vaccinations are up to date

What can I do if my neighbour’s dog is barking excessively?
In the first instance, Council encourages the effective resolution of private disputes and complaints between people through discussion and mediation. The Community Justice Centre (CJC) can assist with mediation. The CJC can be contacted on 1800 990 777. To enable your problem to be resolved through the CJC, you will need to demonstrate that an attempt to find a solution by discussions with the other person has been made.

Council will take no further action unless sufficient documentation such as a formal statement is forthcoming to support your claim of an excessively barking dog. Council may rely on this statement to proceed with formal action such as the issue of a Nuisance dog order or the issue of Penalty Infringement notices. Two independent witnesses who do not reside at your home must provide this documentation. Each of these persons must be able to visually identify the alleged barking dog, complete a barking dog survey and be prepared to attend court as a witness if necessary.

What will happen if my dog barks excessively?
Council’s Animal Control Officers will investigate the matter. The owner is notified by Council of the alleged barking and requested to prevent such noise from occurring. The complainant and other witnesses are issued with a survey form to be completed with the details of the time, day etc of the alleged barking noise.

If the excessive barking continues, Council may issue a Nuisance Dog Order against the owner based on formal statements being obtained from witnesses and in accordance with section 21 of the Companion Animals Act 1998.

Breach of this order may result in infringements being issued.

Nuisance Dog

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, Council may issue a Nuisance Dog order if it is satisfied your dog;
• is habitually at large,
• repeatedly barks,
• repeatedly defecates on another persons property,
• repeatedly runs at or chases a person, animal or vehicle,
• endangers the health of a person or animal,
• repeatedly causes substantial damage to anything

If you wish to report a nuisance dog, please contact Council’s Citizen Service Centre on Ph 9367 9222 to lodge a complaint. Council may request you make a formal statement to support your claim of a nuisance dog. The statement outlines the dates, times, length of barking, location of dog when barking and the dog’s description etc. Council may rely on this statement to proceed with formal action such as the issue of a Nuisance dog order or the issue of Penalty Infringement notices.

Dog Attack

All Dog attacks reported to Council are considered as very serious allegations. Council officers thoroughly investigate reports of dog attacks on persons or animals and this may result in serious consequences for the attacking dog, its owner or the person in charge of the attacking dog.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, an attack is defined as being If a dog rushes at, attacks, bites, harasses or chases any person or animal (other than vermin), whether or not any injury is caused to the person or animal.

The minimum on the spot fine for a dog attack is between $550 & $1320.
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, Council may also declare a dog dangerous if it is satisfied it has, without provocation;
• Attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin), or
• Repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal (other than vermin).
A person reporting a dog attack may be required to make a formal statement to support their claim of the attack. Council may rely on this statement to proceed with formal action such as the issue of a Dangerous dog order or the issue of Penalty Infringement notices.

Dangerous Dog

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, Council may declare a dog dangerous if it is satisfied that it has, without provocation,
• Attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin), or
• Repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal (other than vermin).

Dogs declared dangerous must obey certain control requirements that include but are not limited to:
• The dog must be desexed
• The must be kept in an enclosure prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation 1999
• The dog must wear a muzzle when outside the enclosure
• The property where the dog is kept must display ‘Warning Dangerous Dog’ signs, as prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation 1999
• The dog must wear a distinctive collar, prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulations 1999, at all times.

Restricted Dog

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, the following dogs are "restricted dogs" for the purposes of this Act:

(a) American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier,

(b) Japanese tosa,

(d) fila Brasileiro,

(d1)  any other dog of a breed, kind or description whose importation into Australia is prohibited by or under the Customs Act 1901 of the Commonwealth,
(e)    any dog declared by a council under Division 6 of this Part to be a restricted dog,
(f)    any other dog of a breed, kind or description prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, Council may also issue a Notice of Intention to declare a dog to be restricted dog if it is of the opinion that a dog:
(a) is of a breed or kind of dog referred to in section 55 (1) (a)–(d1), or
(b) is a cross-breed of any such breed or kind of dog,

A dog that is prescribed as being a Restricted Dog under the Companion Animals Act 1998, must obey certain control requirements that include but are not limited to:
• The dog must be desexed
• The must be kept in an enclosure prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation 1999
• The dog must wear a muzzle when outside the enclosure
• The property where the dog is kept must display ‘Warning Dangerous Dog’ signs, as prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation 1999
• The dog must wear a distinctive collar, prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulations 1999, at all times.

Dog Exercise Areas

Leichhardt Council provides ‘off leash’ dog exercise areas within the Municipality, some on a full time basis and others on a time-share basis (which means you can only exercise your dog off leash between designated hours each day). Signposts have been installed in each park highlighting areas in which dogs can be on and off leash.

Please refer to the “Access to open space strategy for Dogs” document for further details of dog exercise areas or to the new pdf icon Dog Owners Guide (2.12MB) for a map of dog exercise areas.

Dog Owners’ code of conduct
All dog owners must comply with the dog owners’ code.

• You must have a leash in your hand at all times when in an ‘off leash’ area
• Your dog must be on leash in all public areas, including footpaths, other than designated ‘off leash’ parks.
• You are responsible for ensuring that your dog remains in the exercise area.
• It is your legislative requirement to pick up and dispose of your dog’s waste. Bins and ‘doggy bags’ are located in all of Council’s parks.
• Your dog must be microchipped and registered.
• If you have a dangerous dog, it is not allowed ‘off leash’
• You should ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.
• You should have voice control over your dog.
• Remember to keep early morning and evening noise to a minimum at all times.

Where you CAN NOT take your dog
Please remember that dogs are not allowed on or off leash in;

• Children’s play areas – or within 10 metres
• Within 10 metres of a food preparation/consumption area
• Recreation areas where dogs are prohibited
• Schools ground
• Child care centres
• Shopping areas where dogs are prohibited
• Wildlife protection areas

LOST.html Dogs

If you have LOST.html your dog please contact Council’s Citizen Service Centre on ph 9367 9222 to lodge a report. You will be asked to provide a detailed description of your dog's colour, breed, gender, whether he/she is wearing a collar, is he/she microchipped etc.

Please ensure the details on your dog’s microchip are correct and up to date. Council officers seizing stray dogs will attempt to contact the owner before taking the dog to the Pound.

All dogs seized by Leichhardt Council officers may be impounded at:

Sydney Dogs & Cats Home
77 Edward Street, Carlton
Ph: 9587 9611
Fax: 9588 9569
Website - http://www.sydneydogsandcatshome.org
Email – sdch@sydneydogsandcatshome.org

Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9.30am – 5.00pm
Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 10.00am – 2.00pm

Viewing Hours for Dogs:

Monday - Friday: 9.30am - 4.00pm

Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 10.00am - 2.00pm

Viewing Hours for Cats:

Normal opening hours.

Please contact Sydney Dogs & Cats Home regularly to check if your dog has been impounded. You may also visit their website where a list of recently impounded dogs can be viewed. Council recommends you personally visit the pound regularly to check if your dog has been impounded. Council also recommends you consider taking the following action:
• Contact your local Veterinary Hospitals in the area and adjoining areas
• Contact and visit the RSPCA (ph: 9770 7555) and/or the Animal Welfare League (ph: 9606 9333)
• Place an Ad in the local paper
• Speak to your local shop owner about placing an Ad in their shop
• Speak to your neighbours and ask them to search their premises, inside sheds, under the house etc

NOTE: Please remember to notify the applicable persons when you have found your dog.

Found Dogs

Leichhardt Council Officers may collect stray and LOST.html dogs between 6.00am and 4.00pm. Phone Leichhardt Council on 9367 9222. Advise that you have found a dog and provide an accurate description of the dog and the location where the dog was found. If you have contained the dog please ensure you have provided adequate water and shelter. Arrange for a Council Officer to collect the dog and provide your address and contact phone number. No collection will be provided unless the premises are occupied by the resident.