Dog and cat laws

Being a responsible pet owner means you:

• Choose your pet carefully
• Provide it with regular food, water and shelter
• Ensure it has health checks and exercise
• Microchip and register all pets
• Restrict them to your property
• Control them in public

Restricting your pets’ movements

As the owner of a cat or dog it is your responsibility to keep your dog or cat on your premises. You can be fined or prosecuted for failing to:

• Prevent your dog or cat from wandering onto private property without the owner or occupier's permission
• Keep your dog or cat out of a public area that is declared off limits (such as flora and fauna parks)
• Observe cat curfew – keeping your cat inside between the hours of sunset and sunrise

Go to dog and cat fines.

Nuisance pets

Owners of cats and dogs can also be fined or prosecuted for:

• Encouraging or causing your dog to attack, bite or harass a person or other animal
• Allowing your dog or cat to be a nuisance. This includes barking dogs or a dog or cat fouling the neighbourhood

Desexing your dog or cat

We recommend that dogs and cats be desexed if they are not intended for breeding.

If funding permits, we may participate in programs that assist owners to a discount towards desexing their pet. This is subject to partners and local veterinary clinics choosing to participate.

Dog-free zones

Dogs are not permitted to enter:

• The playing surface of the Queen Elizabeth Oval
• Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park

Exceptions apply to dogs used for law enforcement purposes and assistance animals, as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Dogs in public places

You must control your dog in public places. All dogs are required to be on a leash in signposted areas, within 10 metres of any public BBQ or outdoor eating area, children's play area or business premises. Please observe signs. Find out about off-leash places to walk the dog.

Dog droppings

Owners must carry a bag or something to collect all of the droppings left by their dog in any public place.