Dog management for local governments

Background

Australians own about 6 million dogs—that's about one dog for every second household.

Dog ownership comes with long-term responsibilities and legal obligations.

While most Queenslanders meet their dog ownership responsibilities, there continues to be distressing cases of serious dog attacks on community members:

• There were 8,500 complaints about negative dog behaviour and dog attacks in 2022.
• 2,500 of those complaints resulted in hospitalisation of the victim.
• There was a 57% increase in dog-related incidents in public hospital emergency department hospital admissions from 2021 to 2022.

Effective dog management that balances the benefits of dog ownership with community safety creates ongoing challenges for local governments, our health-care system and Queensland communities.

Key changes to the AMCDA

Changes were made to the AMCDA in response to the rise in dog attacks on community members and animals in Queensland.

From 31 July 2024, there are:

• new penalties for dog owners, including on-the-spot fines of 5 penalty units for not keeping a dog under effective control when in a public place
• increased penalties for dog owners of up to 700 penalty units for the most serious dog attack offences, including the option of imprisonment for up to 3 years where a person encourages a dog to attack, which results in death or grievous bodily harm to a person.

From 28 August 2024:

• local governments can now clarify when an authorised person must or may make a destruction order for a dog. An authorised person is a council employee that has the power to investigate, monitor and enforce any part of the AMCDA
• five dog breeds are now prohibited:
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
  • Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

More information about changes to the Act

• Read about regulated dogs
• Read about laws for pet owners.

Effective control of a dog under the AMCDA

A person has effective control of a dog if:

• they are physically able to control the dog
• they are holding the dog using a leash, lead or other restraining device
• the dog is securely tethered to a fixed object and under a person's constant supervision
• the dog is kept in an appropriate temporary enclosure that limits the dog's movement and is under a person's continuous supervision
• the dog is being confined or tethered in, or on, a vehicle in a way that prevents the dog moving any part of its body beyond the vehicle
• the dog is under a person's continuous supervision and control using voice command when:
  • in an off-leash area
  • doing obedience training
  • being shown at an exhibition or a race
  • acting as a working dog, a dog working for a government organisation or a security patrol dog.

More information about effective control

• Read more in the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008
• Read about effective control of regulated dogs

Regulated Dog Register

Under the AMCDA, local governments are mandated to record any regulated dogs that reside within their local government area in the Regulated Dog Register.

Regulated dogs are either declared dangerous or menacing under section 94 of the AMCDA and are the subject of a declaration made by an authorised person.

Purpose

The purpose of the Regulated Dogs Register is to ensure comprehensive documentation and monitoring of declared dangerous or declared menacing dogs, to enhance public safety and regulatory compliance.

Access

Local governments and our department can access the Regulated Dogs Register.

Forms

These dog management forms are for the use of authorised persons conducting investigations into non-compliance under the AMCDA.

Guidelines

The Enforcement Guideline for the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 provides information for local governments involved in monitoring, enforcing and/or investigating serious dog attack offences in Queensland.

References

• Animal Medicines Australia — 'Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people', Table 7; p.6 (2022)
• Queensland Wide Interlinked Courts Database (nd) — accessed 13 August 2023
• Queensland Health
  • 'SDLO advice note: Presentations and admissions for dog bites' (2023)
  • 'SDLO advice note: Emergency presentations with a principal diagnosis of dog bite' (2024)

Support for local governments

For technical support with the Regulated Dog Register:

• contact us at catsanddogs@dpi.qld.gov.au (monitored from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday — not monitored on public holidays).

For support with serious dog offence investigations, local governments can:

• complete a Request for Investigation Support Form
• email it to catsanddogs@dpi.qld.gov.au (monitored from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday — not monitored on public holidays).

Note about support:

• We are not responsible for providing advice in relation to serious dog offences.
• The support provided is not legal advice—local governments should seek independent legal advice.