Did You Know With Mayor Julie Hall

To make sure your dog and others around them are safe, it is important to keep your pet under effective control.

Effective control means holding your dog by a leash when you are in a public place such as parks, foreshores, or residential areas.

It is also essential that you are physically able to control your dog.

On the spot fines of $309 may apply if your dog is not deemed to be under effective control.

Unfortunately, the amount of calls our Local Laws Officers are receiving in response to roaming dogs, dogs off leash and dog attack complaints is rising.

Our Officers have spent over 130 hours in the last two months alone patrolling areas within the region in response to these complaints.

This blitz will continue and unfortunately has a flow on cost to all ratepayers.

If your dog is deemed dangerous as the result of a dog attack, Council may increase your dog registration to $797 per year.

In extreme circumstances, Council also has the ability to issue a dog destruction order.

Please remember, we have ample off-leash dog parks in our region, should you wish to exercise your dog off leash.

Your dog must remain controllable in these areas and not cause harm to any other animal or person.

For more information, visit the pet ownership section of Council’s website.

‍