2014-08-19 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    19 AUGUST 2014


Disaster Management & Public Order

6                         NOOSA COUNCIL REGULATED DOG INSPECTION PROGRAM
DOCUMENT IN FOR MATI ON




Author                          Phil Amson, Team Leader, Public Order
                                Community Services Department

Index                           ECM /Subject /Animals /Restricted Dogs/Dangerous Dogs/Menacing Dogs

Attachments                     1.   Schedule B & C - Regulated Dog mandatory conditions


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Team Leader Public Order to the Infrastructure & Services
Committee Meeting dated 19 August 2014 and, in accordance with Section 113 (5) (d) (i) of the
Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 approve a systematic inspection program to
occur from 1 October 2014 to 20 December 2014 for a Compliance Audit of premises in the
Noosa Council area where Council’s Regulated Dog Register indicates a regulated dog is being
kept.


REPORT
The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (the Act) requires local governments to
manage regulated dogs within their boundaries. Noosa Shire Council undertakes investigations
into animal attacks and declares dogs to be ‘regulated dogs’ in accordance with the Act.
Regulated dogs are defined as dogs that have demonstrated aggressive behaviour in the
community and have either attacked a person or animal causing injury; or have behaved in a way
to cause fear to a person.

In accordance with the Act, if Council declares a dog as ‘regulated’, officers must undertake an
initial inspection of the property where that regulated dog is proposed to be kept, to ensure the
property complies with the mandatory conditions to keep such a dog. Owners of regulated dogs
must rectify any problem on the property to comply with the mandatory conditions identified in the
Act to keep regulated dogs (see Attached Schedules B & C).

To ensure the ongoing compliance of the mandatory conditions for keeping a regulated dog, a
check of the property needs to be conducted annually to ensure compliance and address any
breaches. Annual inspections can only occur if Council approves by resolution, a systematic
inspection program to provide authorised officers the power to enter private property to check for
continued compliance by the dog owner with the mandatory conditions to keep a regulated dog.
Without a systematic inspection program, Council has no other way of confirming if a regulated
dog is being kept in accordance with the conditions imposed under the Act unless a complaint is
received.

Currently, there are 21 regulated dogs in the Noosa Council area. A number of regulated dog
owners may have changed address without notifying Council of a new address or moved their
dogs to another location contrary to the Act. Council has a community obligation to monitor
regulated dogs to ensure ongoing community safety. If officers identify another property not on
the regulated dog register where a regulated dog may be kept they will undertake an inspection


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