The responsibilities of dog owners are established under the Companion Animals Act 1998. Several of the basic responsibilities, and corresponding ‘on the spot penalties’ for non compliance are detailed below.
A dog that is in a public place must be under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate cord or leash. Penalty $220.
Dogs are required to be registered after six months of age. Identification (microchipping) is a pre-requisite to registration and is required from 12 weeks of age, or at the time of sale if this occurs before 12 weeks of age. Penalty $165.
The owner of a dog that defecates in a public place must immediately remove the dog’s faeces and properly dispose of them. Penalty $275.
Barking dogs can cause severe disturbances to local residents. Where Council receives multiple ongoing complaints about a barking dog the animal may be declared a nuisance. Further barking events may result in a $220 penalty.
Dog owners are advised that any Penalty Infringement Notices issued by Council are processed and recovered by the NSW Police Service SEINS system.