Pet ownership is a commitment that should be considered carefully. Before you consider purchasing a dog or a cat you should consider the responsibility of owning a pet and ensure that you can meet the animal’s needs. Some of these responsibilities can be quite costly so you need to ensure that you can afford to care for the animal.
Each year thousands of people abandon their pets for reasons ranging from loss of interest to lack of funds. Dog ownership is a commitment for 10 - 15 years (some dogs can live for much longer). Cat ownership is a commitment for about 12 years (although many cats live much longer).
A dog's basic needs include:
- registration;
- housing;
- nutrition (a healthy balanced diet);
- obedience training;
- exercise and play;
- bathing and grooming;
- routine vet visits;
- vaccination;
- worming;
- flea / tick control; and
- holiday boarding arrangements.
A cat's basic needs include:
- registration
- identification (microchip)
- housing (protection from the rain and sun)
- water available at all times
- nutrition (high protein/high fat diet)
- worming
- grooming
- flea/tick control
- vaccination
- routine vet visits
- holiday boarding arrangements
- housed indoors overnight
- outdoor cat run enclosure
When considering becoming a dog or cat owner you should first consider what type of dog or cat will best suit your home environment and lifestyle, for example:
- Active or passive?
- Large or small?
- Short-haired coat or long-haired coat?
(Remember long-haired breeds require daily grooming.)
- Pedigree or crossbreed?
- Female or male?
Prescribed enclosures for dogs
All persons and animals are entitled to a safe living environment. By providing an adequate enclosure you will ensure that your dog remains on your premises and does not cause any potential threats or risk to the community.
Logan City Council local laws are amongst the strictest in Queensland and suitable enclosures must be provided to ensure your dog cannot escape or wander from your yard. Simply tethering your dog is not considered an acceptable means to prevent your dog from wandering.
You must provide an escape-proof enclosure constructed of strong and firm materials and designed so as to reasonably prevent the dog from escaping over, through or under the barrier.
If you live in the former Logan area (as existed prior to 15 March 2008) the height of the enclosure must be:
- one metre for a small dog or
- 1.8 metres for a medium or large dog
If you live in the former Beaudesert area the height of the enclosure must be at least 1.2 metres or high enough to prevent the escape of the dog.
If you live in the former Gold Coast area, a proper enclosure is an area of land on which the dog is kept, appropriately sized so as to effectively and comfortably house the animal. The area must also be appropriate to the breed of the dog to effectively enclose the dog on the property.
Council enforces enclosure height requirements and may impose greater height criteria if a dog has proven to be able to escape the enclosure.
Effective control of dogs
Roaming or wandering dogs have been responsible for numerous attacks, nuisances and traffic accidents. You must ensure:
- the dog is in a prescribed enclosure; or
- the dog is held by a leash not longer than two metres in length by the keeper, who is physically able to control the dog and is not holding more than two dogs at the one time; or
- The dog is tethered to a fixed object and under the continuous supervision of the keeper, who is physically able to control the dog; or
- Your dog is controlled or supervised by a person who is at least 16 years of age.
Obedience training for dogs
Obedience training can help prevent nuisance behaviours such as barking, jumping up and begging. You must teach your puppy or dog appropriate and acceptable social behaviour. It is recommended you seek the advice of a professional dog obedience trainer.
Try contacting:
- Logan All Breeds Dog Obedience Club on 3290 2718
- Your local vet (for all animal management and health issues)
- Logan City Council Animal and Pest Services
- Logan Libraries for helpful books and videos
Why does Council restrict the number of animals allowed to be kept?
The underlying principle for the rules is to make sure sufficient space is available for the dog(s) or cat(s) to move around or exercise so as to reduce boredom, related behavioural problems and to minimise hygiene concerns.
Refer to the relevant local laws.
How many cats can I keep?
- Former Logan - one cat is permitted to be kept on a property that is less than 300 square metres in area. If your property exceeds 300 square metres you may keep up to two cats.
- Former Beaudesert - no more than four over the age of six months.
- Former Gold Coast - no more than two cats.
Pet ownership checklist
Before you consider becoming a pet owner you must ensure that you can meet the animal's basic needs. If you can answer 'yes' to all these questions you are ready to become a responsible pet owner.
- Have you considered what type of dog or cat will best suit your home environment and lifestyle?
- Can you afford an annual registration fee?
(Dog registrations are renewable annually and expire on the 30 June each year.)
- Do you have a prescribed enclosure for the dog?
(1 metre high fence for a dog weighing eight kilograms or less, 1.8 metre high fence for a dog weighing more than eight kilograms.)
- Will you be able to effectively control the dog?
(Have you purchased a collar and leash (not longer than two meters) and are you able to physically control the dog?)
- Can you afford to take a dog to obedience training courses?
- Can you provide adequate food (a healthy balanced diet) and housing (protection from the rain and sun) for a dog or a cat?
- Can you afford routine vet visits, vaccination, worming, and flea / tick control?
- Can you afford to put the dog or cat in a boarding kennel when you go on holidays?
- Can you exercise the dog or cat daily?
(Forms of exercise include going for a walk, and runs in dog off leash areas.)
- Do you have time to groom the dog or cat regularly?
(Long-haired dog breeds require daily grooming.)
If you are considering buying a pet through Council's Animal Management Centre Dog and Cat Sale Program and are interested in a particular breed download the Registration of Interest form (pdf) and return it to the Animal Management Centre. You will be contacted when your selected breed becomes available.
For direct information on the "do's and don'ts" of pet ownership, please refer to the Dog and Cat rules brochure (pdf).