• Home
  • Get Help
    • Make a Will
    • Enduring Powers of Attorney
    • Enduring Powers of Guardianship
    • Divorce
    • Interaction between Family Law and Succession Law
    • Children's Matters
    • Property Matters
    • Property Orders
    • Applying for a Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO)
    • Applying for a Violence Restraining Order (VRO)
    • Differences between FVRO and VRO
    • Apply for Probate
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Probate has been Obtained
    • Duties of an Executor
    • Letters of Administration
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Letters of Administration has been Obtained
    • eLodgment of Court Documents
    • Dividing Fences
    • Overhanging Branches and Roots
    • Consumer Issues
    • Disputes with your Employer
    • Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation
    • Issues with Dogs
    • Issues with Cats
    • Useful Contacts
    • Privacy
  • Legal Advice
    • Preparing for your Appointment
    • Legal Document Fees
    • Payment and Cancellations
    • Community Legal Centres in WA
  • Mediation
    • Family and Child Mediation
    • Community Mediation
    • Commercial Mediation
  • Shop
  • Volunteer
  • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Branches
    • Board and Staff
    • Publications
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Terms of Use
    • Our Partners
    • Branch Login
  • Contact
Citizens Advice Bureau

Page translation

English English
en Englishaf Afrikaanssq Albanianar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanibe Belarusianbg Bulgarianca Catalanzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)hr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchgl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekht Haitian Creoleiw Hebrewhi Hindihu Hungarianis Icelandicid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanlv Latvianlt Lithuanianmk Macedonianms Malaymt Malteseno Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russiansr Serbiansk Slovaksl Slovenianes Spanishsw Swahilisv Swedishta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduvi Vietnamesecy Welsh

Translation by Google*

  • Home
  • Get Help
    • Make a Will
    • Enduring Powers of Attorney
    • Enduring Powers of Guardianship
    • Divorce
    • Interaction between Family Law and Succession Law
    • Children's Matters
    • Property Matters
    • Property Orders
    • Applying for a Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO)
    • Applying for a Violence Restraining Order (VRO)
    • Differences between FVRO and VRO
    • Apply for Probate
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Probate has been Obtained
    • Duties of an Executor
    • Letters of Administration
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Letters of Administration has been Obtained
    • eLodgment of Court Documents
    • Dividing Fences
    • Overhanging Branches and Roots
    • Consumer Issues
    • Disputes with your Employer
    • Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation
    • Issues with Dogs
    • Issues with Cats
    • Useful Contacts
    • Privacy
  • Legal Advice
    • Preparing for your Appointment
    • Legal Document Fees
    • Payment and Cancellations
    • Community Legal Centres in WA
  • Mediation
    • Family and Child Mediation
    • Community Mediation
    • Commercial Mediation
  • Shop
  • Volunteer
  • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Branches
    • Board and Staff
    • Publications
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Terms of Use
    • Our Partners
    • Branch Login
  • Contact
  • Home  
  • Get Help  
  • Issues with Dogs

Issues with Dogs

Owning a dog is a big responsibility. Whether you're a dog owner or have been affected by a neighbour's dog barking or being aggressive, this page contains essential information about your rights and responsibilities.

[Click here for printer version]

Two dogs running

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there regulations for keeping and controlling dogs?
Yes, refer to the:

  • Dog Act 1976 (WA);
  • Dog Regulations 2013 (WA);
  • Your local government’s (council’s) by-laws.

What are my responsibilities as a dog owner?

  • You have a legal responsibility to keep your dog under control, either within a fenced area on your property or on a leash when in public. There are penalties for the breach.
  • You must ensure that your dog is not creating a public nuisance by barking excessively. You will be subject to a range of penalties.
  • As a person in charge of your dog in a public place, you are required to remove your dog’s droppings and adequately dispose of them. The penalties for this breach vary from one local government to another.
  • If your dog attacks a person or another animal, you will be held responsible even if you are not there at the time. There is a range of penalties. As the owner you may be imprisoned too.
  • It is your responsibility to register your dog. Not registering your dog may incur a penalty.
  • Your dog is required to wear a collar to which must be attached to a valid registration tag. This tag will be issued by your local government when you pay your registration fee. If your dog does not have a registration tag you may be fined.
  • Your dog must be microchipped.

How many dogs can I keep?
Local government can limit the number of dogs (aged over three months). It can also limit the number of dogs of a specified breed that you can keep. Your local government by-laws will regulate if you are allowed to keep more than two to a maximum of six dogs (other than dangerous dogs). Typically you can have up to two dogs. You cannot have any pup of a dangerous dog (restricted breed) that is under three months of age. If you have dangerous dogs (declared or restricted breeds) you cannot have more than two dogs which are over three months of age.

Is there a penalty for a breach?
Yes, the court can impose a range of fines. Contact your local government for information about the by-laws in your area.

Can I have more than two dogs?
Yes if your local government issues you:

  • A kennel licence, or
  • An exemption from your local government by-laws.

Can my dog be impounded?
Yes. The police or an authorised person from a local government can impound any dog that is found wandering without a leash in any public place.

Are there exceptions to this?
Yes, if your dog is:

  • In an official dog exercise area;
  • In a public place outside a town site or metropolitan region that is not a rural leashing area specified under the Act;
  • In or on a vehicle;
  • Being exhibited for show purposes;
  • Taking part in authorised obedience classes;
  • A droving or stock dog (in authorised circumstances);
  • A foxhound (in authorised circumstances); or
  • Being used for retrieving, duck hunting or other customary sporting purposes.

What is a "dangerous dog"?
A dangerous dog is defined in the Act as:

  • A dangerous dog (declared); or
  • A dangerous dog (restricted breed); or
  • A commercial security dog.

What are the risks of owning such a dog?
Dog owners and every person responsible for control of a dog can be prosecuted if their dog chases or attacks any person or animal irrespective of whether physical injury is caused or not to the person or animal. The local government can ask for a court order that the dog be destroyed if it has attacked and caused injury or damage.

What are the possible legal consequences of a dog attack?

  • A dog attack can result in a range of fines.
  • There are fines or imprisonment for setting or urging a dog (other than a dangerous dog) to chase or attack a person or animal.
  • It is a criminal offence if you are responsible for a dangerous dog and it attacks someone in a way that endangers their life or kills them.
  • A person who has been attacked by a dog can take private legal action for any injury or damage they have suffered, including medical costs, veterinarian bills and damage to clothing and so on.

Is there a defence to a dog attack claim?
There may be a defence. Get legal advice about whether you have a defence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your local council or shire may have a template letter for complaining about a nuisance or dangerous dog.

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries have a guide to Responsible Dog Ownership.

You can make an appointment with a Citizens Advice Bureau lawyer to get legal advice about a dangerous or nuisance dog.

Mission

To connect people with information and services so they can make independent and informed decisions.

Informing Western Australia since 1963
  • Home
  • Get Help
    • Make a Will
    • Enduring Powers of Attorney
    • Enduring Powers of Guardianship
    • Divorce
    • Interaction between Family Law and Succession Law
    • Children's Matters
    • Property Matters
    • Property Orders
    • Applying for a Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO)
    • Applying for a Violence Restraining Order (VRO)
    • Differences between FVRO and VRO
    • Apply for Probate
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Probate has been Obtained
    • Duties of an Executor
    • Letters of Administration
    • Administering the Estate of the Deceased after a Grant of Letters of Administration has been Obtained
    • eLodgment of Court Documents
    • Dividing Fences
    • Overhanging Branches and Roots
    • Consumer Issues
    • Disputes with your Employer
    • Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation
    • Issues with Dogs
    • Issues with Cats
    • Useful Contacts
    • Privacy
  • Legal Advice
    • Preparing for your Appointment
    • Legal Document Fees
    • Payment and Cancellations
    • Community Legal Centres in WA
  • Mediation
    • Family and Child Mediation
    • Community Mediation
    • Commercial Mediation
  • Shop
  • Volunteer
  • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Branches
    • Board and Staff
    • Publications
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Terms of Use
    • Our Partners
    • Branch Login
  • Contact
Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body to 2021 Citizens Advice Bureau Registered Charity
National Association of Community Legal Centres
^Top

The Citizens Advice Bureau of WA acknowledges the traditional custodians of this incredible land on which our offices are located. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging, and hope for a future that is kind, fair and has meaningful reconciliation.


Disclaimer for our website: This website is presented by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for the purpose of disseminating information free of charge for the benefit of the public. CAB monitors the quality of the information available on this website and updates the information regularly. However, CAB does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from, or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this website or on any linked site. CAB recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to their use of this website and that users carefully evaluate the accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance of the material on the website for their purposes. This website is not a substitute for independent professional advice and users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.

* The Citizens Advice Bureau does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies in the translation.

Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved