Under the Dog Control Act 2000, Council has the power to seize dogs that are in breach of the Act, most commonly this is dogs that have attacked people or animals, or dogs that are roaming (at large).
What happens when a dog is seized
- If the owner of the dog can be identified, Council will endeavour to contact the owner to advise their dog has been impounded and why;
- Once notified, the owner has five business days to reclaim their dog;
- If the owner of the dog can’t be indentified, Council is only required to hold the dog for three business days;
- After this 3 days, or just prior to a weekend, the dog may be transported to the North West Coast
Fees relating to seizure and impounding
Prior to releasing the dog, owners must pay in full, or enter an agreed payment arrangement, for:
- dog registration fees (if applicable)
- daily fee for each impounded dog
- dog release fee
- any other fee or infringement notice relating to the dog