Aggressive dogs can cause a real danger to other people and animals in the community. Council is required to act upon all complaints received for aggressive dogs. The complainant will be asked to complete a statutory declaration with enough information to provide Council with grounds to investigate. The identity of the complainant will remain confidential in any correspondence from Council. If the matter goes to Court, the complainant/s will be required to supply evidence in person.

Depending upon the severity of the attack the dog may also be seized, impounded and/or destroyed, in addition to the owner being fined and/or prosecuted. The dog may also be declared either a dangerous dog or menacing dog under the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008. The owner must comply with legislated conditions for keeping a declared dog and will incur additional registration fees.

A regulated dog is defined as:

• Declared dangerous dogs
• Declared menacing dogs
• Restricted dogs.

A dangerous dog declaration can be made for a dog only if the dog:

• Has seriously attacked, or acted in a way that caused fear to, a person or another animal
• May, in the opinion of an authorised person having regard to the way the dog has behaved towards a person or another animal, seriously attack, or act in a way that causes fear to, the person or animal.

A menacing dog declaration may be made for a dog only if a ground mentioned above exists for the dog, except that the attack was not serious.

A restricted dog is a dog of a breed prohibited from importation into Australia under the Customs Act 1901 (Cmwlth).

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