Stray Animals

Dogs

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, dog owners must take all reasonable measures to prevent their dogs from escaping their property. Fences and enclosures should be made secure and kept well maintained to prevent dog escapes.

If your dog escapes your property and an investigation finds that you did/have not taken reasonable steps to prevent said escape, you may be issued a fine. Additional fines may apply, if your dog has not been appropriately identified/registered, including circumstances where you have not updated your address/contact information on an existing registration.

The Companion Animals Act 1998 requires that your dog must be adequately contained on your property. If your dog is in a public place and not in a designated off leash area, it must be under the effective control of some competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash that is attached to the dog and that is being held (or secured to) the person.

Any person can seize a dog that is in a public place and is not under the effective control of a competent person. Should the owner of the dog be present only an Animal Services Officer may seize the animal should the owner not comply with the above requirements.

Any dog, which is seized by a member of the public, is required to return the animal to its owner (if the owner is known) or contact Council to make arrangements for it to be transported to the Animal Holding Facility. Any person, who seizes a dog and does not return it to its owner or notify Council, is guilty of an offence, which may incur a fine.

If you find a stray dog, check the collar to see if you can identify the name of the dog and owners contact details. If you cannot contact the owner, you can contact Council who will collect the dog and attempt to return it to its owners. Alternatively, you can take the dog to a veterinary clinic or animal welfare facility. 

Cats

Council does not capture stray, feral or roaming cats. Cats can sometimes appear to be strays due to their innate behavior in the form of roaming. Given this, it can be challenging to ascertain if a cat is genuinely a stray. Furthermore, capturing a cat that is not already confined is often an unattainable goal, as cats are agile and can easily avoid capture.

For further assistance please contact Animal Welfare League or RSPCA.