Desexing is not compulsory for ordinary dogs under the Dog Control Act 2000 . However, desexing can have many positive benefits for the community, those who must handle dogs, and dogs themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Desexing is an important step in avoiding unwanted pregnancies in dogs. Much of the pressure faced by our Dog Homes is created by the litters resulting from unplanned breeding.
Unfortunately, not all dogs placed in Dog Homes can be found new owners and many have to be euthanised.
Desexing can minimise this problem. Desexing generally reduces behavioural problems in dogs such as roaming, aggression and territorial scent marking by male dogs.
It can reduce mating behaviour and false pregnancies in female dogs.
It is generally recognised that desexing provides some health advantages to dogs.
Desexing can reduce the incidence of diseases and illnesses and as a result, desexed dogs usually live longer and have healthier lives.
Dog owners have several responsibilities under the Dog Control Act 2000, including keeping a dog under effective control and confining a bitch on heat.
Desexed male dogs are less prone to territorial marking and therefore straying.
The owner of a desexed male dog may therefore be less susceptible to being fined for having a dog at large.
As heat cycles are eliminated in spayed females their owners would no longer have to ensure their confinement while on heat.
There are also often financial benefits from having your dog desexed as Council offers discounts on registration fees for dogs that have been desexed.
It is generally accepted that dogs should be desexed before they are five to six months old.
Most dogs are desexed between three and six months of age.
RSPCA Australia recommends early age desexing from the age of eight weeks.
The RSPCA says early age sterilisation is simpler and recovery is rapid and straightforward.
There is no evidence to support the commonly held view that dogs should be allowed to have a litter before being desexed.
Desexing is a surgical sterilisation procedure carried out by a veterinary surgeon.
Veterinary surgeons have all the facilities and training needed to carry out this surgery safely and effectively.
As desexing generally reduces the incidence of diseases and illnesses, desexed dogs can be expected to have longer and healthier lives.
If your dog is declared a dangerous or restricted breed dog it must be de-sexed and microchipped within 28 days.
Dogs declared a dangerous dog prior to I July 2010 will also have to be desexed. The owner is responsible for these costs.
Failure to ensure that a dangerous or restricted breed dog is desexed and microchipped will be an offence punishable by a fine as per the Dog Control Act 2000.
A dangerous or restricted breed dog that has not been desexed and microchipped may also be seized and detained.