Council may declare a dog as dangerous if:
- the dog causes injury to a person or an animal by biting, attacking, rushing at or chasing a person or animal; or
- another local government has declared it dangerous.
Guard dogs may also be declared dangerous.
If a dog has been declared dangerous, its owner must satisfy a number of stringent management requirements. These responsibilities include:
- displaying suitable warning signs;
- provision of a specified enclosure;
- muzzling of the dog when in a public place; and
- payment of a dangerous dog registration fee.
Impounding and seizure of aggressive and dangerous dogs
Council officers occasionally have cause to seize and impound dogs which present an unacceptable risk to the community due to the aggressive nature of the dogs or if a suitable enclosure to contain the dog does not exist.
The local law provides Council with the power to effect a dog seizure. In these cases, notice will be served on the dog's owner, providing an appeal process, should Council intend to destroy a dog.
Download Application for Provision of Animal Management Database Information for Registered Dogs that have been Declared Dangerous (pdf).