Responsible Pet Ownership

Gwydir Shire recognises that pets are an enormous source of pleasure and companionship for many people. We welcome and encourage responsible pet ownership within the shire. Owning a pet is a big responsibility. There are many things you need to take into account to ensure the best for your dog’s welfare.

• Dogs at all times must wear a collar with a name tag showing the name of the dog and address or telephone number.
• Your dog must, unless it is exempt from this requirement, be under the effective control of a competent person at all times when out in public. This means that it must be on a leash and under the control of someone capable of restraining it. A small child, for example, may not be able to control a large dog. Under these circumstances, an adult capable of restraining the dog, should walk the dog.
• A dog is not considered to be under the effective control of a competent person if the person has more than 4 dogs under his or her control.
• If your dog is being exercised in an approved off-leash area it must always be under effective control of a competent person.
• Pick up and remove the faeces immediately and dispose of them properly.
• Prevent your dog from escaping the property on which it is being kept.
• All dogs, apart from police and corrective service dogs and genuine assistance dogs, are banned from children's play area, food preparation or consumption areas, except cafes or restaurants whose owners permit dogs in their outdoor dining areas, recreation areas where dogs are prohibited, public bathing areas where dogs are prohibited, school grounds, child care centres, shopping centres where dogs are prohibited, wildlife protection areas.