Dogs

Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) in Moolap and Ballarat Animal Shelter in Alfredton have animals available for adoption. You can have a look and see if your new family member is waiting for you by clicking the attached links.

GAWS

PetRescue 

When out walking dogs must be on a leash or effective control of their owner at all times.  

Local Law No. 1 identifies areas in the shire where dogs must be on a lead. These can be found here.  There are only small areas in townships where a dog must be on a lead however in every Council area and footpath, you must have effective control of your dog.

Effective control means:

• Your dog will return to its owner upon command
• You dog remains within view at all times
• That your dog does not bother, attack, worry or interfere with other people or animals

If you cannot maintain effective control of your dog on a footpath or any other Council land, your dog must be on a leash. Failing to keep your dog under effective control may lead to fines being issued pursuant to Local Law No. 1. 

Dogs at large is an infringeable offence under the Domestic Animals Act. Many properties around Golden Plains Shire has farm type fencing as their predominant boundary fence. This type of fencing is however often inadequate to keep dogs contained within.

Responsible pet ownership includes ensuring your dog does not leave the boundaries of your property and fines apply when dogs are found at large.

When the weather cools off, dogs frequently start wandering and animal management teams see an increase not only in dogs at large, but also dog attacks. Dogs escaping the bounds of their property is a serious and common problem, and as a dog owner you are responsible if your dog escapes your and attacks another person, a child, another dog or livestock.

All dog owners should take the time to regularly check their fencing for any damage and make sure their fence is dog-proof. Consider:

• Is your fence high enough for your dog?
• Are there any gaps the dog can push under? Frequently dogs will slowly push up mesh type fences until it's loose enough to get in under.
• How big is the a gap between the top of your mesh fence and the top-wire, or the top fencing panel? It is not uncommon for dogs to push through these gaps, even though it may look as though there is not enough room for this to happen. An additional wire between the mesh and the top wire, or fencing panel, can help.
• Are the latches on the gates secure? Dogs are smart creatures and can learn to open various types of latches on gates.

Considering these will help keep both your dog safe and the community safe.

Council takes dog attacks very seriously and whilst most people find it difficult to believe their family pet could ever attack or kill anything, this is a common occurrence and not limited to particular breeds. These incidents causes immense distress for both the victim and the owner of the dog.

Most reported dog attacks within the Shire are the result of dogs that have escaped their property, whether through damaged fencing or inadequate fencing. This is why ensuring your fence is appropriate for your dog, and kept in good repair, is crucial.

In the majority of cases reported within the Shire, livestock and other dogs are the victims of the attack. Attacks of this nature, particularly on livestock, occur too frequently and are extremely cruel. Sheep that survive being mauled often need to be put down because their injuries are so severe.

What might happen if your dog attacks another animal or a person?

When a dog attack occurs, it's an offence under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (VIC). Council officers are authorised under the Domestic Animals Act to investigate the incident. The owner, or person in control of the dog at the time of an attack, can be held responsible for the actions of the dog and may be prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. 

The outcome can be that the owner of a dog responsible for the attack may have their pet destroyed and be required to pay compensation for medical costs, veterinary costs and the loss of livestock. In some cases, Council will also propose the dog to be declared a menacing or dangerous dog, imposing additional responsibilities on the owner. 

It is important to understand, that not being present at the time of the attack, because your dog for example escaped your property, does not prevent you from being held responsible for your dog's actions.

For less serious incidents, Council may instead of prosecuting, opt to issue fines together with a requirement to compensate the victim for medical or veterinary cost incurred. At times other requirements, such as of improved fencing, or other appropriate measures to prevent reoccurrence, may be imposed.

To avoid the risk of prosecution, fines or having your pet destroyed as a consequence of injuring or killing somebody or something, always keep it securely contained on your property or on a leash when out walking.

Always assume your dog is capable of attacking people, livestock and other pets and keep you dog under control at all times.

What to do if you are the victim of a dog attack?

If you are the victim of a dog attack, please contact Council on 5220 7111. You should report the attack as soon as possible. To help speed up the investigation process, where possible please provide Council with details of the attack, including:

• Time and date of incident
• Location of incident
• Description of dog(s), including breed if known.
• If you saw where the dog came from, address and / or location
• Extent of injury - retain doctor's/veterinary reports
• Conversations with the owner
• Any witness details

• Always keep your dog in a secure yard or enclosure or on a leash when out in public. 
• Register and microchip your dog so that if it gets out and is picked up by Council it can be safely returned home. Remember - registered pets get a free first ride home!
• Train your dog well to return when called and to stay at home.
• Socialise your dog with people and other animals. They’re less likely to be aggressive when placed in new environments.
• Desex your dog. Not only are desexed dogs eligible to reduced pet registration fees, but there are many benefits with desexing your dog, such as reduced risk of:
  • Roaming behaviour;
  • Certain cancers;
  • Aggressive behaviours, especially in male dogs. 

If your neighbour's dog barks excessively 

If you are concerned about a barking dog problem, it is a good idea to talk with your neighbour first as they may not be aware their dog is causing a problem. If noise persists, you should complete a barking dog diary. A barking dog diary can be found in the list of forms below. 

Once you have submitted your barking dog diary to Council, a Community Safety Officer will contact you to discuss the problem. If you haven't completed a barking dog diary and you contact Council for assistance, you will be asked to complete a diary before next steps are taken. 

Once a barking dog diary has been received, Community Safety Officer will provide the dog owner with advice on possible solutions. Fact sheets on these steps can be found below.

Your neighbours can complain if your dog barks excessively 

If your neighbour/s have contacted you about concerns that your dog is barking excessively or you have been contacted by a Community Safety Officer about your dog barking, you should take this seriously. 

Council's Community Safety Officers will work with you while you address any issues with your dog's barking, but if the issue continues, you can get fined if the barking reaches a level where it is considered a nuisance. 

Fact sheets can be found below with steps Council's Community Safety Officers can take with respect to barking dog complaints, as well as tips on how to address dog barking.

The Golden Plains Shire Planning Scheme permits a certain amount of dogs to be kept for breeding purposes. 

If you live in a residential zone and you have more than two fertile animals, either dogs or cats, at breeding age that you intend to breed, you will be required to apply for a planning permit for domestic animal husbandry.

Planning Provisions for Breeding - Animal Welfare Victoria 

The Domestic Animals Act 1994 defines a farm working dog as a dog that herds, droves, protects, tends or works stock on land used solely or primarily for primary production. The dog owner’s income must be primarily generated from primary production. Primary production is defined as the maintenance of animals or poultry for the purposes of selling them or their natural increase of bodily produce.

A primary producer is defined as someone whose primary source of income is generated from primary production as per the land tax definition, specifically in relation to animal production.

To determine if your dog is a farm working dog, please answer the following questions:

Dog ownership criteria:

1. Are you, or are you contracted by, a primary producer?
2. Is your main source of income generated from primary production?

Please note: Primary production is defined as the maintenance of animals or poultry for the purpose of selling them or their natural increase or bodily produce under section 3 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

If you answered NO to either of these questions, your dog does not qualify as a working dog.

Farm working dog criteria:

1. Does your dog herd, drove, protect, tend or work stock?
2. Does your dog work (as per the definition below) on land used mainly for primary production?

Please note: Farm working dog means a dog that herds, droves, protects, tends or works stock on land used solely or primarily for primary production under section 3 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

If you answered NO to either of these questions, your dog does not qualify as a working dog.

Owners of working dog breeds that do not meet the primary producer and farm working dog definitions are not eligible for legislative exemptions.

Council is responsible for determining if a dog is a farm working dog, as per the definition. Please complete and submit a Working Dog Registration Application form along with proof of microchipping. Please note: By signing a statutory declaration, you agree that the information you have provided is true and correct. You can be liable to the penalties of perjury if the statutory declaration is false.

Your application will then be assessed to determine if your dog meets the Working dog criteria. If approved by Council, farm working dogs:

• Receive a reduced registration rate with council
• Do not count towards a property’s fertile female dog breeding limit
• Are not required to wear an identification marker outside of the premises if being kept or used or trained as a farm working doing, including when it is going from place to place for that purpose

For more information, please visit Animal Welfare Victoria's Farm Working Dogs page

Do you have more than 2 dogs registered on your property?

If you have more than 2 dogs or 2 cats on your property, you may require a permit to keep them.

You can contact the Compliance and Prosecutions Division at Council on 5220 7111 to discuss this requirement.

Download the application for Excess Animal Permit (keeping more than 2 dogs or 2 cats)

OR amend your permit by downloading Amend Excess Animal permit

Recent changes mean that assistance dogs are now exempt from registration fees, where eligibility criteria has been met and Council has been provided evidence of this. Please see Assistance Dog information sheet.

More information can also be found on Animal Welfare Victoria’s website here.

To be eligible for free registration, the owner of an assistance dog must demonstrate that:

• They have a disability, as defined under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), and require an assistance dog
• The assistance dog has been trained top perform tasks or functions to alleviate the effects of the disability
• The assistance dog has completed obedience training
• The assistance dog is at least 12 months of age
• The assistance dog is microchipped
• The assistance dog is desexed

All eligibility criteria must be satisfied to be eligible for free registration.

The Application for Registration of Assistance Dog must be filled out, and supporting documentation as outlined in the application must be attached. Incomplete applications will be sent back, and you will have 21 days to complete your application, after which time your dog will be considered as not registered with Council and applicable infringements may apply. If you are having difficulties with finalising any of the supporting documents, please contact the Customer Experience team to advice of any delays.

If you have any questions on the application, please don’t hesitate to contact the Compliance and Prosecutions Division on 03 5220 7111 who will be happy to answer any questions.