Dogs
Dog Registration
All dogs should be registered with the Council to ensure that effective dog control can be carried out. Without dog registrations the Council is unable to provide an effective service. Imagine for a moment what it would be like without dog control. People could not walk in the park or in the streets without fear of harassment from dogs. Attacks would increase, as would the frustration of people who choose not to own a dog.
Your cooperation in registering your dog is the first step towards responsible dog ownership and registration helps us trace owners of lost dogs.
All dogs must be registered when they reach three months of age and then reregistered each year on 1 July with an extended payment period between July 1 and August 31.
If you purchase or obtain a dog three months or older, then you have 14 days in which to register the dog. It doesn't matter at what time of year your first registration is done. Reregistering is required on July 1 of each year. If the dog is not registered in either of these cases then penalties apply.
Description | Standard Fee | Concession Fee | Working Dog |
| Standard Dog (Micro Chipped and Desexed) | $37.50 | $28.00 | $32.00 |
| Non Standard Dog (Not Microchipped or Desexed) | $75.00 | $56.00 | $60.00 |
| Non Standard Microchipped Only | $67.50 | ||
| Registered Therapeutic Dog | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Late Registration | $20.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 |
Impoundment Dog/Cat | $70.00 | $70.00 | $70.00 |
| Pound holding fee Dog/Cat | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| Registration of Licenced Breeders (plus registration fee for each dog) | $182.00 | ||
Expiations | |||
Owning or keeping an Unregistered Dog | $190.00 | $190.00 | $190.00 |
| Dog Wondering at Large | $210.00 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Dog without a collar and current registration disc | $170.00 | $170.00 | $170.00 |
| Attack, Harass or Chase a person or animal | $315.00 | $315.00 | $315.00 |
| Creating a nuisance by barking or otherwise | $315.00 | $315.00 | $315.00 |
| Failure to remove faeces immediately | $210.00 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Transporting unrestrained Dogs | $210.00 | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Standard Cat Registrations MUST be desexed and Microchipped | $5.50 | ||
| Non-standard Cat Registrations | $11.00 |
Dog and Cat Management Act
Changes to the Dog & Cat Management Act 1995 came into effect on 1 July 2017. The amended legislation included compulsory desexing and microchipping of dogs and cats and only 2 classes of dogs and cats - Standard (dogs and cats that have been desexed and microchipped) and Non-Standard (all other dogs and cats).
Apart from the compulsory 20% of revenue returned to the Dog & Cat Management Board, the Act also requires that any revenue raised from registration fees shall be utilised for dog and cat management with the emphasis on encouraging responsible dog ownership.
Limit on Dog Numbers
The limit on the number of dogs kept on any premises in the township is two (2), with the number kept on premises outside of the township being three (3), except for approved kennel establishments.
Desexing Your Dog
Please see the attached flyer from GoodDogSA.com re desexing your dog.
Barking Dog(s)
The Flinders Ranges Council deals with approximately 150 dog noise complaints each year. Residents are encouraged in the first instance to try and solve the problem with the owner of the dog(s). The complaint procedures for barking dog(s) complaints are as follows:
1. Download Dog Noise Record Sheets or obtain it from the Council Offices,
2. Complete the Dog Noise Record Form and hand back to the Council when completed,
3. The dog management officer will then assess the 7 day diary and determine if the complaint is justified and sufficient evidence is obtained,
4. Further evidence will be obtained by a door knock of the immediate area to substantiate the complaint and establish whether further proceedings are justified,
5. If the complaint of the nuisance dog(s) is found to be justified, then council may proceed to do the following directions,
a. Issue an Expiation notice, (section 45a, subsection 5)
b. Issue a Notice of Intention to issue an Order (section 52 of the Act)
c. Issue a Dog Control Order (section 50 of the Act)
Dog Noise Complaints Fact Sheet
Disputes
Dog owners have a responsibility not only to their animal(s) but to the community. Respect and consideration between neighbours goes a long way in preventing problems with dogs. Penalties apply for various offences.
Lost and Found
Please contact the council if you have lost or found a dog.
Tel: 08 8620 0500
Email: council@frc.sa.gov.au
Impounded Dogs are advised on Council's FaceBook page
Complaints
All complaints are to be in writing on the Dog/Cat Incident/Complaint Form and delivered or emailed to Council's Works Depot, 23 Railway Terrace, Quorn or council@frc.sa.gov.au
Dog Attacks
What to do if a dog attacks?
After a dog attack, you should be to seek medical or veterinary treatment as a priority.
When safe to do so, you must report the attack to the council.
Report the incident ASAP
Like all serious incidents, time is a critical factor in dealing with dog attacks. This is especially important if the offending dog is wandering at large and still poses a risk to the public or other animals. To help council investigators, please try to gather the following information before contacting us:
- the date, time and exact location of the attack. If you’re not sure, use your GPS equipped smart phone to check on a map
- a description of the offending dog - registration disc, name tag, breed, colour, sex, markings, collar, etc
- a description of the owner - name, address, contact phone number, male or female, age, hair colour, clothing
- if a car was involved and the offender drove away with the dog - car registration number, make, model, colour
- a description and photographs of any injuries and location on your body or your pet's body.
You should also keep copies of any medical certificates, vet or doctor bills as evidence.
What happens when a dog is reported?
- Council investigators may take a statement or affidavit from you
- Photos may be taken of any injuries to yourself, or your animals.
- The dog's owner may be contacted to get their side of the incident.
- Investigators could seek witness statements and other evidence
- Investigators assess the circumstances and evidence and make a decision for action
- Council will then issue legal notices as required, and;
- Inform the parties of the outcome.
Who is responsible?
You are responsible for your dog’s actions. It is an offence for a dog to attack, harass or chase a person, another animal or a bird owned by a person.
Find out more from the Dog and Cat Management Act, 1995
Depending on the severity of the attack, councils can:
- issue a warning
- impose an on the spot fine
- take direct court action (in more serious cases)
- impose a control order (Nuisance, Dangerous Dog, Menacing Dog, or Destruction Order)
- The maximum penalty for a dog attack is $2,500 ($5000 prescribed breeds)
Preventing dog bites
Dogs bite for many reasons. The most common reasons are fear, pain or confusion when mixing with people and other dogs. Ignoring signs of aggression can result in serious injury to you, a member of your family or others. You can discourage biting by:
- socialising your dog from an early age so that it learns how to mix with other dogs and other people in public
- avoiding situations that may cause your dog to become nervous or anxious
- training your dog - obedience classes help you learn about your dog, its body language and how you can communicate with it
- desexing your dog. Research shows that, on average an entire dog is more aggressive. Note that desexing dog will be mandatory (with exemptions) from 1 July 2018.
- asking your vet for advice if your dog shows any signs of aggression towards people.