Pet owner responsibilities and laws related to dogs and cats.
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 dog or cat 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)
Barking dogs and nuisance pets
Owners of dogs and cats 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 droppings
Owners must carry a bag or something to collect all of the droppings left by their dog in any public place.
Restricted breed and dangerous dogs
Rules and information about restricted breed and dangerous dogs in Victoria.