Dogs
Dog Management Policy under review!
Council reviews its dog policy every five years and is currently seeking community input on a draft revision of the current Policy and dog zones (Declared areas) included in it. Submissions are due by Tuesday 14 May 2024.
A number of changes to the current policy are being considered, including remapping current linear coastal dog zones as 2D areas with boundaries.
- Download the draft revised policy here.
- View an online map of proposed dog zones (Declared areas) here.
Read more and use an online form to make a submission via our Community Engagement webpage.
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Dogs are the valued companions of many residents and visitors and we want you and your dog to be happy. But not everyone likes dogs all the time.
Council has a responsibility to protect community health, safety and amenity and wildlife – it is our responsibility under the Dog Control Act and Dog Control Regulations.
Under this Act Council maintains a Dog Management Policy with a Code of Responsibilities and declared areas, where you can take your dog off lead or on lead for exercise, where other restrictions apply or where dogs are not permitted anytime. Maps of current declared areas are included in the policy document and can be viewed on this online map.
Being a dog owner comes with legislated expectations to ensure that you are a Responsible Dog Owner. The two most important things to remember are:
1. Register your Dog with Council
2. Know where the Dog Management Zones are – where you can and can’t take your dog
Check out the links below for more information.
Break O’Day Council dog zones online map
Remember being a responsible dog owner is your responsibility!
- Do I have to register my dog?
- How do I register my dog?
- What happens if I move house?
- What happens if my dog dies?
- What happens if I sell or give my dog to someone else?
- What happens to dogs that are impounded at the Council pound?
- Lost and Impounded dogs
- Dog friendly beaches, off leash areas and Dog Parks
According to the Dog Control Act 2000, every dog over the age of 6 months must be registered and microchipped. This is a legal requirement and a punishable offence. The only exception to microchipping a dog is if it is an approved working dog or you have received a certificate from a vet advising the dog should receive a medical exemption from microchipping.
In the Break O’Day area the annual registration fee is due by June 30 of each year, or as soon as your dog reaches six months of age during the year.
Registration forms are available from the Council office in St Helens, or fill, one out online here Application for Dog Registration . Once a registration form is completed and the appropriate fee is paid, a registration tag will be issued.
What information is kept about registered dogs?
The following information is held in the council’s dog register:
- the dog’s name, age, sex
- whether your dog is desexed or not
- microchip number
- current tag number
- the dog breed if identifiable
- any identifiable feature/s of the dog
- whether the dog is a declared dangerous dog
- the owner’s name, address and contact details
- any other information about the dog the council considers relevant.
If you are moving house permanently, or moving temporarily for more than 60 days with your dog, you will need to notify us. This needs to be done within 14 days of moving. If you are transferring to a different municipal area, both your old and new councils will need to be notified in writing.
If this unfortunate situation arises, you must notify us in writing within 14 days of the dog’s death. This also applies if your dog is lost, or permanently removed from your premises.
Once notified, the Council will cancel your dog’s registration.
What happens if I don’t obey the Act and Regulations?
If you do not comply with the requirements of the Dog Control Act 2000 or the Dog Control Regulations, you could be liable for an infringement or penalty.
The new owner of your dog will need to notify the council of the change of ownership, in writing, within 14 days of taking possession of the dog.
As the previous owner, you must notify the General Manager in writing that you no longer own the dog. This must occur within 14 days of change of ownership.
Once we have a dog in our pound, every effort is made to find the owner. First we will check the dog for a microchip (this is why it is so important to microchip your dog) or collar with contact details. If we are unable to find the owner this way, we then advertise the lost dog on our website, Facebook page and through our community radio station StarFM.
Technically, after three days the dog legally becomes the property of Council, although we do wait as long as possible to reunite the dog with its owners.
After this we will try and re-home the dog by advertising it again through our website, Facebook page and StarFM. We have even surrendered dogs that we have been unable to rehome to the RSPCA and other smaller animal sanctuaries just to give the dog a chance at finding a good home. The very last resort for us is to have the dog euthanised.
Please see our list of Lost and Impounded Dogs below or check our Facebook page.
There are currently no dogs in the Council pound.
Please follow this link.