Dog and cat ownership responsibilities

The Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 was introduced to promote animal welfare, the responsible ownership of dogs and cats and the protection of the environment.

This information will assist you as a pet owner to understand the responsibilities of owning a dog or cat in the Wodonga municipality.

What are my responsibilities to my dog/cat?

Make sure you:

Choose a pet that is right for you; consider the yard space, time needed for exercise and training, other family members. Also consider the costs involved such as, veterinarian fees, food and council registration costs;

Exercise your pet daily;
Provide a healthy balanced diet;
Have your cat or dog sterilised if it is not intended for breeding/show;

What are my responsibilities to the community as a pet owner?

Cat and dog owners can be fined or prosecuted for offences in certain circumstances. You can be fined:

If your dog is found wandering outside your premises;
If you encourage or cause your dog to attack, bite, worry or chase a person or animal;
If your dog or cat is a nuisance, or you fail to comply with a court notice ordering you to stop the cat or dog being a nuisance. This includes persistent barking which annoys your neighbours.
If your dog or cat wanders on to private property without the owner's permission on more than one occasion, and a warning has been issued by the council, an infringement notice may be issued.
If you allow any part of the animal's excrement to remain on any road, street, nature strip, reserve, public or council land, and;
Fail to take responsibility for any damage your dog or cat may cause.

Menacing dogs

Wodonga Council may declare a dog to be a menacing dog if it has rushed at, or chased, a person.

There are also rules for dogs declared to be menacing. For example they should wear a muzzle and be restrained on a lead anytime they are outside the owner's premises.

Do I need to register my dog or cat?

All domestic cats and dogs over three months of age must be registered each year with the City of Wodonga. Microchipping is compulsory for all new animals as of May 1, 2007 under the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994. All cats are to be desexed as of April 10, 2007. Click here to download the animal registration form.

Reduced registration rates apply for:

Pension card holders; Health Care Cards are ineligible

Your animal registration fees provide:

A service for owners to report lost and found pets;
Council officers to respond to calls about wandering dogs and cats;
Council officers to investigate complaints regarding noise nuisances;
Council officers to inspect the properties where dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are owned;
Council officers to monitor pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries for compliance with the minimum standards under the Codes of Practice;
An education officer to provide information to schools, community groups and the general public on responsible pet ownership;
Special events such as Paws in the Park and microchipping days.

You can be fined up to $500 per animal if you do not register your cat or dog. The council conducts a door knock each year to ensure all dogs and cats over three months of age are registered.

How many animals can I keep?

You can keep up to two dogs and two cats, over three months of age on any premises (with the exception of properties classified as "Rural 1"). If you wish to keep more than this number of animals you must apply to the council for a permit.

Where can I exercise my dog?

Dogs may be walked in most areas of the municipality. They must be on a lead and all droppings left by the dog removed and disposed of appropriately. You may be fined if you fail to do this.

Does the council have a cat curfew?

Yes. Cats must be confined to their owner's property between 7pm and 7am, 7 days a week.

Outside the curfew hours cats may wander freely. However if a resident asks that your cat not enter his/her property and your cat repeatedly does so, after two warnings from the resident and a Notice of Objection from the council, the cat may be trapped and impounded or a fine issued.

What do I do if a dog or cat keeps wandering on to my property?

You must notify the owner either verbally or in writing that you don't want the animal on your property. If after two notifications the animal is still entering your property you should contact the council which will warn the owner once and then issue a fine.

What do I do if a neighbourhood dog barks a lot?

You must notify your neighbour that their dog is barking. Sometimes the owner is unaware that their dog is causing a disturbance. If the dog continues barking, contact council who will then ask the owner to do something about the situation. You must then complete a log sheet (supplied by council) of the dates and times the dog is barking and return it to council. If council and the owner of the dog can't resolve the problem, the matter can be referred to court for a decision.

What can I do to stop my dog from barking?

Dogs can bark for a number of reasons. Movement of people, animals or vehicles near the property, the dog becoming bored or lonely and sometimes for no apparent reason.

Here are some simple solutions that may minimise barking

Restrict your dog's view to inside the yard. If your dog cannot see the person or vehicle on the other side of the fence, it may not bark;
Provide regular exercise for your dog;
Brighten your dog's environment with toys, balls, etc;
Ensure your dog has a secure, well maintained sleeping area;
Leave a radio going inside when you go out, so that your dog thinks you are still at home;
Take your dog to obedience training. Local service providers offer help to train your dog. You can check the Yellow Pages for further details.

What is a "dangerous dog"?

Many dog owners believe dogs are declared "dangerous" due to their breed or size. This is not so. A dog may be declared dangerous if it attacks and seriously injures a person or another animal. There are rules for dogs declared "dangerous", such as, special identification, warning signs, the dog being muzzled when off the owners premises, etc.

Further information is available from the council's civic services department on request. The council has determined that any declared dangerous dog (involved in an attack) is not welcome in our community. The council will not register or renew the registration of a dangerous dog so the dog must be removed from the municipality.

What is a 'restricted breed' dog?

There are four (4) breeds of dogs that are banned from being imported into Australia - the Dogo Argentino, the Japanese Tosa, the Fila Brasileiro and the American Pit Bull Terrier, commonly called the Pit Bull Terrier. Council has determined that these breeds are not permitted in our community. A Restricted Breed dog, new to the area, will not be registered, which means the dog must be removed from the Wodonga Municipal area.

Who can help if I need further information?

Contact the council's customer service officers on (02) 6022 9300. You can also contact the dispute settlement centre on 1800 658 528.

They can assist you with information, referral, dispute counselling and arranging mediation.

After hours emergency number

(02) 6022 9300

The dog and cat responsibilities brochure is available from Documents and Publications - Dogs and Cats

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