Dogs are popular pets, but some dog behaviours are concerning to others. Roaming dogs can be annoying to neighbours or seem threatening to other people. Dog poop that is not picked up is unsightly, smelly and can impact others enjoying outdoor spaces.
If you want to report a roaming dog, or have an issue with dog defacation, or are concerned about a dog you think is menacing, follow the steps below to resolve the issue.
If you know the dog owner, have a chat to them or drop a friendly note in their mailbox. They may be unaware that their dog is roaming or pooping on your property. Letting them know about the problem gives them the opportunity to fix it.
We need to know the dog breed and description of the dog plus the date, time, frequency, place or property where the behaviour occurred. If you can take a photo of the dog and it's behaviour, it will help towards the details.
We can only take action if we know the identity of the dog's owner. We need a name and address plus description of the dog to match it to the owner. If you don't know the identity of the owner, but saw the car they drove away in, you will need to provide us with the licence plate number so we can try to match the address to the dog owner.
If you have contained a roaming dog on your property, call us on 6581 8111 and we will come collect the dog and attempt to return it to the owner. If you have all of the above details, you can make a report.
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We regularly patrol the majority of our beaches, parks and reserves within our local government area at random times.
We have increased our patrols in the following popular areas:
Fining an owner for not picking up their dog's poop can only be issued if they are caught in the act. If it's alleged that the dog has pooped and the owner has not disposed of it correctly, we need evidence of this, plus all the details as mentioned above. The dog owner has the right to dispute any claims made so you need to be willing to back your statement if it goes to court.
A roaming dog is an unaccompanied dog with no owner around. Often referred to as a stray dog.
A dog off-leash is in the company of an owner but not tethered to the owner via a leash. Dogs can be off leash in designated off leash dog areas, of which there are several in our region.
Responsible dog owners will keep their dog contained on their property or on a leash if in a public place (except for designated off leash areas). They will carry doggy bags to pick up after their dog in public.
Read more about dog owner responsibilities in the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998.