2014-10-14 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                          14 OCTOBER 2014


Disaster Management & Public Order
5    SYSTEMATIC INSPECTION PROGRAM - UNREGISTERED DOGS
DOCINFORMATION
Author       Coordinator – Local Laws, Phil Amson
             Community Services Department

Index             ECM/ Subject/ Dog Registration

Attachments       Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not Applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Coordinator - Local Laws to the Infrastructure & Services
Committee Meeting dated 14 October 2014 and

A.   Approve a Systematic Inspection Program for the Noosa Shire Council area in accordance
     with section 44 of the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008, noting that the
     inspection program will:-

     1.    consist of a house to house inspection of premises to identify unregistered dogs and
           gain compliance with statutory obligations from their owners; and
     2.    operate from 02/02/2015 to 29/05/2015; and

B.   Request the Finance Manager to incorporate the additional cost and revenue of the
     program in the next quarterly budget review.


REPORT
Background

Statistics obtained through the RSPCA indicate that dogs are the most common household pet,
with 39% of households owning a dog and that on average, there are 19 dogs for every 100
people across the nation.

The estimated population of the Noosa Shire is approximately 53,000 people. Using the
RSPCA’s national average, the Noosa Shire area should have just over 10,000 registered dogs.
Currently there are approximately 8,000 (7920) registered dogs, spread across 6861 properties
in the Shire.

Based on these national statistics, there are possibly up to 2,000 unregistered dogs in the Noosa
Shire.

Council Officers impound an average of 30 dogs per month, of which in excess of 40% are
unregistered. Registered dogs are usually returned to their owners within 24hrs whilst
unregistered dogs remain with Council for longer periods, requiring sustenance and care. On
many occasions dogs remain in care for 3 days before being passed on to RSPCA for
behavioural assessment and either re-homing or euthanasia (for those animals that fail
temperament testing).



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