Dogs

Free Registration

From 1 July 2020, free registration is available for first-time registrations only, no matter the age of the animal. Free registration is provided up to the end of the current renewal period, being 31 October each year.

Animal owners MUST be 18+ years of age.

To register your dog, click here.

Council provides a number of dog off-leash areas throughout the Fraser Coast.

These areas provide the opportunity to play, exercise and socialise leash-free with other dogs and dog park visitors.

Dog off-leash areas can include facilities such as seating, water, dog waste bins/litter bag dispensers and some shaded areas.

For more information click here.

Fraser Coast Regional Council investigates dog attacks under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Fraser Coast Regional Council Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011.

Report a Dog Attack

If you witness or are involved in a dog attack, report it to Fraser Coast Regional Council as soon as possible by phoning 1300 79 49 29 (available 24/7 for emergencies).

Timely reporting helps Council respond quickly, ensure public safety, and collect critical evidence while the incident is still fresh.

Applicable Laws

Under the Queensland Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, it is an offence to:

• Fail to control a dog in a public place,
• Allow or encourage a dog to attack or cause fear, and
• Fail to meet legal requirements for keeping a Menacing or Dangerous dog.

Under Council’s Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011, owners must keep dogs in secure enclosures to prevent escape or wandering.

What Happens When a Dog Attack is Reported?

Initial Response – Community Ranger

Council’s Community Ranger is typically the first to respond. Their duties include:

• Ensuring public safety and securing the dog,
• Assessing enclosure adequacy and seizing the dog if necessary,
• Gathering initial evidence (photos, witness details, dog registration status),
• Noting verbal accounts.

Formal Investigation – Senior Investigator

Once safety is confirmed, a Senior Investigator will:

• Conduct formal interviews and take written statements,
• Gather and review evidence (photos, medical/vet reports, witness accounts, dog history),
• Assess if legal thresholds are met,
• Recommend enforcement action.

Council’s Possible Actions

Based on the investigation outcome, Council may:

• Issue fines (Penalty Infringement Notices),
• Prosecute under State or Local Law,
• Declare the dog Menacing or Dangerous,
• Impose control conditions (e.g. fencing upgrades),
• Seize or humanely destroy the dog in serious cases.

For Victims of Dog Attacks

What to Expect

• Council’s priority is public and animal safety.
• Most reports are made after the incident.
• Investigations commence as soon as practicable and are evidence-based.
• Legal action requires proof beyond reasonable doubt.

How You Can Help

• Seek medical/vet attention immediately,
• Make notes of the incident while fresh in memory,
• Take photos of injuries, the dog, and the location (safely),
• Provide any medical/vet reports to Council,
• Cooperate with investigators.

Note: Council has up to 12 months from the date of the attack to commence legal proceedings.

Will You Have to Go to Court?

• Most cases settle before trial.
• If the owner pleads not guilty, you may be asked to give evidence.
• Council will notify you and support you through the process.

Will You Be Compensated?

Council cannot award or pursue compensation. If you wish to seek reimbursement for medical/vet bills or other damages, speak to a solicitor.

Will You Be Kept Informed?

Due to the Information Privacy Act 2009, Council cannot share the dog owner’s details or specific enforcement actions. However, you will be updated as permitted and informed of court outcomes if applicable.

For Dog Owners Involved in an Alleged Attack

Why You’ve Been Contacted

A dog registered to you, or in your care, has been involved in a reported attack. You are legally responsible and are required to cooperate with Council’s investigation.

Your Responsibilities

• Secure your dog in an escape-proof enclosure,
• Ensure registration and microchipping is up to date,
• Cooperate fully with the investigation,
• Provide your version of events and any supporting evidence.

Will Your Dog Be Seized or Euthanised?

• Most dogs remain with owners during the investigation.
• Seizure may occur if the dog poses an ongoing risk or cannot be secured.
• Euthanasia is only ordered in serious circumstances, including:
  • Inability to control the dog,
  • Severe attacks,
  • Repeat offending, or
  • Owner request.

Each case is assessed individually.

Can You Contact the Victim?

No. Council is obligated to protect the victim’s privacy. If you wish to offer compensation or an apology, Council can pass your contact details to the victim for them to initiate contact, if they choose.

Will You Need to Go to Court?

If Council proceeds with prosecution:

• You will receive formal court documents,
• You can plead guilty or not guilty,
• A hearing will be set if you plead not guilty.

Council prosecutes to protect public safety, not to target responsible pet owners. Legal advice is recommended.

Need Help?

If you have questions about the investigation, your rights, or your dog’s welfare, contact the investigating officer listed on your correspondence.

Council recognises the important role pets play in the lives of many, particularly in providing companionship, security, and enhancing wellbeing.

At times, pets may be adversely impacting neighbours or other members of the community.

Communication is vital in resolving animal noise nuisance, particularly dog barking.

Council’s Community Rangers will liaise with animal owners and complainants to assist in resolving concerns, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant laws. More broadly, Community Rangers will endeavour to proactively educate the community on responsible pet ownership.

It is reasonable to expect that many dogs will bark; however, ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem. Owners are responsible for ensuring their animals don’t cause a nuisance by making excessive noise that disrupts or inhibits any normal activity ordinarily carried out in nearby properties.

Rangers address complaints of this nature, in a fair, equitable and consistent manner.

For more details information on responsibilities, understanding behaviours, problems, strategies and the process of addressing animal noise nuisance complaints – please refer to Council’s Barking Dog Information Pack(PDF, 551KB).

Domestic Greyhounds

Animal owners can keep up to two (2) domestic (non-racing) greyhounds, over the age of three months, on a property, or one (1) domestic (non-racing) greyhound, over the age of three months, on any residential unit (residential development comprising multiple units on a single lot), multiple dwellings, accommodation units, caravan park, retirement village.

Racing Greyhounds

You can keep up to six (6) racing greyhounds on a property at any one time.
Racing greyhounds must be registered with Greyhound Racing Queensland.

Registered racing greyhounds must be kept in accordance with Racing Queensland - Local Rules of Racing:

• Racing Greyhounds must be muzzled in a public place as per Greyhound Racing Queensland regulations.
• Decommissioned Greyhounds (as per Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, are not required to be muzzled under current Fraser Coast Regional Council Local Law.

To register a domestic or racing greyhound, go to our Animal Registration page.

Criteria

Guide/Hearing or Assistance dogs are required to be registered with Council, there is certain criteria to meet when applying. If approved, the dog will be exempt from registration fees. Approved Guide/Hearing or Assistance dogs will receive a Council registration tag.

To be eligible to register a Guide/Hearing or Assistance Dog, the animal owner must have a State Government issued Identity Card or certification from a licensed mental health professional. For more information on Guide, Hearing or assistance dogs visit https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/out-and-about/ghad/choosing-ghad

Guide, hearing or assistance dogs are not to be confused with a therapy/emotional support/companion dogs. Such dogs are not considered as an assistance or service dog, as the owner may not have a disability and/or the dog has not been trained to undertake specific, identifiable tasks and behaviours to reduce the person's need for support. The dog is therefore not recognised under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009.

For approval to keep a Guide/Hearing or Assistance Dog, complete this form.

Guide/Hearing Dogs

Owners with sight or hearing disabilities can apply to have a Guide/Hearing dog.

When leaving home, Guide/Hearing owners will need to clearly and visibly display their Identify Card and ensure the Guide/Hearing dog is wearing a harness or identifying coat.

Assistance Dogs

When leaving home, Assistance Dog owners will need to clearly display their Identify Card and ensure the Assistance Dog is wearing an identifying coat.

Types of Assistance Dogs include:

• Physical Disability Service Dog
• Autism Service Dog
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Service Dog
• Dogs4Dementia
• Educational Support Dog
• Facility Support Dog

For more information visit: www.assistancedogs.org.au and click on 'Apply for a Dog' or phone 1800 688 364

You must not keep a restricted dog unless the Fraser Coast Regional Council has issued you a restricted dog permit.

Under the Customs Act 1901, the following breeds are restricted dogs:

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
• Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

If you are having an issue with wild dogs or dingoes, please contact Customer Service on 1300 79 49 29.

Working Dogs

Working dogs are required to be registered with Council, and upon approval are exempt from registration fees.
Approved Working dogs will receive a Council registration tag. If you have not applied for a working dog status your animal is considered to be a domestic dog and requires registration and microchipping.

To be eligible to register a Working Dog, the animal must meet the below definitions:

• A dog usually kept or proposed to be kept on rural land; and
• A dog usually kept by an owner who is a primary producer, or a person engaged or employed by a primary producer; and
• A dog primarily kept for the purpose of droving – protecting, tending, or working stock; or
• A dog being trained in droving, protecting, tending, or working stock; and
• Does not include a class of dog prescribed under a regulation.

Primary Producer - means a person primarily engaged in the occupation of;

1. dairy farmer; wheat, maize, cereal grower; cane grower; fruit grower; grazier; farmer, engaged in general or mixed farming, cotton, potato, vegetable growing, or poultry or pig raising; and
2. includes a person engaged in primary production.

For Working Dog status approval, complete this form.

Pursuant to the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008, a local government is required to keep a dog registry that is open to the public that comprises of particular information about dogs usually kept within the local government area.

This register will be automatically updated here on a monthly basis. Should you wish to obtain a copy of the register in another file format, please contact Council on 1300 79 49 29.

Animal Registration Public Register(PDF, 4MB)

Council acknowledges the significant role pets, particularly dogs, play in enriching the lives of our community members. However, it's crucial to ensure responsible management of visiting dogs in accordance with local laws.

Visiting dogs are those temporarily housed in our area, either accompanying travellers or staying with friends or family for short duration.

There are two types of visiting dogs:

1. Dogs registered in another local government area but residing temporarily within the Fraser Coast Region. These dogs can stay for up to four weeks without specific approval.
2. Dogs registered within the Fraser Coast Region but residing temporarily on another property within the same region. These dogs can stay for up to 14 consecutive days without requiring specific approval.

Throughout their stay, owners must ensure their dogs comply with all relevant laws regarding pet ownership, including noise control, enclosure management, and effective control requirements.