Pet registrations are designed to promote responsible ownership. Registration is compulsory for dogs aged six months and over, so you’ll risk a $181 on the spot fine if you don’t register by the 31 July cut off and pay annually. You’ll receive a discount if you pay earlier, and reduced fees apply to pensioners and those with desexed dogs.

Brighton Council’s Animal Control Officer checks dog registrations in the Brighton municipality. They may enter and remain in or on any private premises at any reasonable time to check the number of dogs on those premises and whether they’re registered and microchipped. An Authorised Officer may also search for and seize any dog on that land if there’s reason to believe that the person in charge of the dog has committed an offence against the Dog Control Act 2000.

Mandatory microchipping

Microchipping is mandatory for dogs over six months old. Microchipping is a permanent means of identification which helps identify dogs, particularly if they become lost. You need to let Council know of your dog’s microchip number as this isn’t passed on from shelters and vet clinics.

Kennel licence requirements

Any person wanting to keep more than two dogs on premis­es in a non-residential area – or in the case of working dogs, more than four – must apply to the General Manager for a li­cence. In some cases a planning permit from Council is also required for a dog kennel.

Those in a residential zone (Bridgewater, Gagebrook, Herdsmans Cove, Old Beach, Brighton, etc.) are not permit­ted to have more than two dogs. Penalties apply if you exceed that.

Preventing attacks

As a dog owner, you’re legally responsible for how your dog behaves. By managing your dog correctly, you can prevent it from attacking people and animals:

• Never allow your dog to wander unsupervised
• Install secure fencing and regularly check it
• When you’re out, keep your dog on a leash.

In public your dog must be tethered or on a leash, unless the place is a designated off-lead area. You can exercise your dog in designated off-lead areas, however, you’re still responsible for the control and behaviour of your dog.

Allowing your dog to wander puts its health at risk and can endanger others. Every year pets are impounded for attacking people and livestock. Being a responsible dog owner involves more than just providing food and water; it also means ensuring your dog is trained, controlled, vaccinated, registered and exercised.