COUNCIL GETS TOUGH ON ANIMAL OFFENCES

Wollongong City Council is cracking down on dog owners who continue to do the wrong things when it comes to their pet. As of 1 May, Council officers have been stepping up the rate of on-the-spot fines for offences under the Companion Animals Act.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Alex Darling, said the crackdown follows a long education campaign to make dog owners aware of their responsibilities.
“We’ve tried the approach of informing dog owners about their responsibilities, and while the majority are doing the right thing, a large number continue to flout the law,” he said.
“We are still seeing many instances where owners fail to pick up after their dog, allow their dog to walk off leash in public places, and fail to microchip and register their animal. Because of the problems that continue to arise, such as dog attacks, nuisance animals, and dogs that can’t be returned to their owner because of lack of identification, we’ve had little choice but to get tougher.”
Council officers are issuing on-the-spot fines ranging from $110 to $440 for dog-related offences. Dog owners need to be aware of the following information:
• All dogs must be microchipped and lifetime registered by six months of age.
• All cats born after 1 July 1999 must be microchipped and lifetime registered by six months of age. Cats born before July 1999 that are sold or given away must be microchipped and lifetime registered.
• If you sell or give away your dog or cat, change residential address or the animal dies, you must contact Council with the details of the new owner and that person’s new address. You must also notify Council of the death of the animal.
• All dogs in public places must be on a leash (unless in an off-leash area) and under effective control at all times.
• Dogs are prohibited at all times (even on a leash) from children’s play areas, school grounds, childcare centres, food preparation/consumption areas, public bathing areas such as flagged areas of beaches and rock pools, and wildlife protection areas.
• You are allowed to walk a maximum of four dogs at once. Any more than this amount is legally defined as not being under effective control.
• You must immediately pick up after you dog while it is in a public place.
(See page 18 for more info on owning a dog.)

ABOUT OWNING A DOG...
• Offence fine owning a dog that attacks - up to $1,100.
• Encourage a dog to attack - up to $11,000, 6 months jail or both, plus permanent disqualification from owning a dog.
• Fail to comply with dangerous/restricted dog requirements - maximum $5,500.
• Fail to comply with a nuisance dog order - up to $550.
• Fail to clean up dog faeces in a public place - $220.
• On-the-spot penalty animal not registered - $110.
• Animal not permanently identified - $110 on-the-spot penalty.
• Dog not on a lead in a public place - $110 on-the-spot penalty.
• Dog without a collar and tag - $110 on-the-spot penalty.
A dog that is in a public place must be under the effective control of some competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash in accordance with the Companion Animals Act 1998.
Dog owners who allow their dogs in a public place without a chain or leash are guilty of an offence and will be fined. This does not apply to:
• a dog accompanied by a competent person in an area declared to be an off-leash area (but only if the total number of dogs that the person is accompanied by or has control of does not exceed four), or
• a dog engaged in the droving, tending or working of stock, or
• a dog participating in an obedience class, trial or exhibition, or
• a police dog, or
• a dog secured in a cage or vehicle or tethered to a fixed object or structure.
Dog are prohibited in the following places, even if on a leash: children’s play areas, recreation areas, food preparation areas, public bathing areas such as the flagged area of beaches and marine and freshwater swimming pools, school grounds, child care centres, shopping centres and wildlife protection areas.
When taking your dog out in a public place it must be on a leash (unless in a designated off-leash area) and under competent control at all times. One person may not walk more than four dogs at any one time.
If your dog defecates while out in a public place, be sure to clean up any mess and dispose of it thoughtfully.
Council Impounding Officers may impound a dog off-leash in a public place.
Council now can declare a nuisance animal if the animal is continually roaming, barking unnecessarily, causing damage to other property or repeatedly chases people or other animals.
Council’s impounding service may collect and hold stray animals.
The collection service operates Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm, and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 12.30pm-2pm. Closed Christmas Day.
Animals are held for the following statutory periods before being destroyed:
• registered dogs and cats - 14 days
• unregistered dogs and cats - 7 days
• stock - 7 days then held at the discretion of the pound.
To report stray animals, call 4225 2727, or 4229 8489. After working hours 4227 9220.
All impounded animals must be microchipped and registered at point of release or sale.
Information taken from Wollongong City Council web page.