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Dog owner's responsibilities

Dog in control in a crowd

Dog Control Act

 

The Dog Control Act 1996 in conjunction with Council's Dog Control Bylaw 2009 requires dog owners to:

  • Ensure that your dog is registered on or before the age of 3-months. Yearly registration renewal is required on or before 30 June each year.
  • When registering your dog provide Council with your full name, your date of birth, address, the address at which the dog will ordinarily be kept, a description of your dog - including breed, colour and any distinguishing marks, the age of the dog, whether or not your dog is classified as dangerous; or menacing and why, the sex of the dog including whether or not the dog is neutered and a description of any tattoo or microchip that provides permanent identification of your dog.
  • Ensure that your dog wears a collar with a current registration tag affixed.
  • Notify Council in writing of any change of address or ownership of a dog within 14 days.
  • Keep your dog under control at all times and ensure it does not attack any person or any other animal.
  • Ensure that your dog receives proper care and attention and that you supply your dog with adequate food, water, shelter and adequate exercise.
  • Take all responsible steps to ensure that the dog does not cause a nuisance to any other person whether by persistent and loud barking, howling, or by any other means.
  • Take all reasonable steps to ensure your dog does not injure, endanger, intimidate, or otherwise cause distress to any person, or injure, endanger, or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife.
  • Take all reasonable steps to ensure your dog does not damage or endanger any property belonging to another person.
  • Keep your dog confined to your property in such a manner that it can not freely leave your land or premises, or ensure your dog is under the direct control of a person.
  • Ensure that your dog is leashed when it is in a public place.
  • Pick up your doggy doos when this occurs outside of your property.
  • If you wish to keep more than two dogs on your property, make application to Council prior to acquiring additional dogs, pay the appropriate permit application fee and comply with the permit requirements at all times.
  • Where a permit has been issued, make application to Council to renew your permit every year prior to the permit expiry date and pay the required renewal fee.
  • Contain your dog if it has a contagious disease.
  • Ensure that if your dog is female and 'in season' and you choose to exercise your dog in a public place, that your dog is leashed and under the direct control of an adult.

The objectives of the Dog Control Act are:

  • To make better provision for the care and control of dogs
  • Requiring the registration of dogs
  • Making special provisions in relation to dangerous and menacing dogs
  • Imposing on owners of dogs obligations designed to ensure that dogs do not cause a nuisance to any person, and do not injure, endanger, or cause distress to any person
  • Imposing on owners of dogs obligations designed to ensure that dogs to not injure, endanger or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife
  • Making provision in relation to damage caused by dogs.

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Animal Education and Control Centre
217 Ellis Street
Frankton
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6632
Fax: 838 6915