Pets and Animals

In Queensland, dog registration is mandatory under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. 

The number of pet dogs and working/stock dogs you can keep on your property in the Balonne Shire is determined by the size of your property. 

A working/stock dog is owned by a person who is a primary producer or person who is engaged or employed by a primary producer. A stock dog is used primarily for the purpose of droving, protecting or working stock; or being trained in droving, protecting or working stock. 

Both pet dogs and working/stock dogs must be kept in a way that does not cause nuisance to others through noise, smell or wandering. 

To find out how many dogs are permitted on your property, refer to the matrix below. 

How many Dogs can you have in Town

How many Stock Dogs can you have in Town

Permits to keep additional dogs can be obtained through Council. 

RESTRICTED BREEDS

Some breeds of dogs are prohibited in the Balonne Shire and under the Customs Act 1901 are deemed 'restricted dogs'. This means they cannot be brought into Queensland and they include:

• American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier)

• Perro de Presa Canario  (or Presa Canario)

• Dogo Argentino

• Fila Brasiliero

• Japanese Tosa

Dog Registration is mandatory under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. 

If your pet dog or working dog should stray or become lost, our office can check the registration or microchip number, find your address and advise you that your pet has been found. 

In Balonne Shire, dogs must be registered within 14 days once:

o Your dog becomes three months old;

o You obtain a dog;

o You move to the Balonne Shire with your dog;

o Your previous registration has expired.

To register your dog, you can download the below application form, fill it in and submit if via email. Or you can fill in a form in-person at the Council Office. 

If your dog is desexed and you have not previously provided Council with a desexing certificate, please attach it to your registration form. 

Dog Registration Application

Working Dog Registration Form

MICROCHIPPING
Microchipping your pet cat or dog is very important. If your pet becomes lost then you are far more likely to become reunited if they are microchipped. Microchips are only as good as the information on the microchip registry. Keeping your information up to date on the microchip regristry is the responsibility of the pet owner.

Section 14 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to 12 weeks of age unless there is a reasonable excuse (such as a signed veterinary certificate that it would be detrimental to the animal’s health to implant it or it is an exempt dog). 

In Queensland there are five microchip registry services which hold pet records. To find out which service your pet's microchip is registered with, visit www.petaddress.com.au  

Dog breeders must be listed on the Queensland Dog Breeder Register.  

If your dog becomes pregnant and has a litter, you must register as a dog breeder within 28 days of the litter being born. 

Upon registration, you will be given a Supply Number which identifies you. A Supply Number may also be a membership or permit number from an organisation or local government that accredits dog breeders – and that has been approved by the Minister as an “approved entity”. 

The Supply Number must be included with the dog’s microchip details and displayed when the dog is advertised, sold or given away. 

This will allow puppies to be traced back to their breeder. 

For more information, visit the Queensland Dog Breeder Register.

EXEMPTION FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS
Primary producers who breed working dogs do not have to register as breeders, as long as they supply all of the dogs they have bred to other primary producers as working dogs.  

If a primary producer supplies any dogs for any other purpose, they must register as a breeder.  

If there is a dog barking excessively in your neighbourhood, there are a number of steps you can undertake to address the matter. 

STEP 1

If you feel it is appropriate, you can speak with your neighbour about the issue, as they may not even be aware that there is an issue. 

If you feel you cannot speak with your neighbour, you can download a ‘Barking Dog Letter’ from below, or collect one from Council offices or libraries. Simply drop the letter into your neighbour’s mailbox.

STEP 2

Your neighbour can loan a barking collar from Council to help address the matter. 

STEP 3

If no resolution has been found, you can download a Barking Dog Diary from below, or collect it from Council. 

Fill out the Barking Dog Diary, have it witnessed by a Justice of the Peace and submit it to Council to investigate the matter further, and if necessary, issue an abatement notice to the dog’s owner. 

If a dog owner doesn’t comply with the abatement notice, they can be fined. 

Barking Dog Letter

Barking Dog Diary

Dog/Cat Traps & Barking Dog Collar Hire

Dogs bark for many reasons and there are ways to manage this. The following tips might help.

Reasons for excessive barking include:

• boredom
• separation anxiety
• fear
• territorial behaviour
• communication.

Some simple tips to reduce excessive barking include:

• exercise—an active dog barks less when it gets regular exercise
• company
• stimulation—a bored dog will bark to attract attention
• fence design—restrict your dog’s view to what’s going on outside the fence.

Council's Compliance Officers are patrolling all towns for wandering dogs. If your dog is found wandering, it will be impounded. 

When a dog is impounded, Council makes every effort to contact the owner and reunite them. 

Before a dog can leave the pound, all outstanding fees must be paid - this includes a pound release fee and a registration fee (if the dog is unregistered).

There are two ways to report a wandering dog:

Snap Send Solve - is a free app for your smartphone that residents or visitors can use to report issues and provide feedback to Council. 

Phone Council on (07) 4620 8888 to report a wandering dog

After-hours calls will be logged for attention on the next business day.

Dogs can behave differently when they are outside their own yard, and may display abnormal aggressive behaviours such as: 

• Growling 

• Snarling 

• Baring teeth 

If you are menaced or attacked by an aggressive dog, please contact Council immediately; give a description of the menacing dog and its location.  

When you report a menacing/dangerous dog, our Local Laws Officer will be dispatched. 

You can report a menacing or dangerous dog incident to Council on (07) 4620 8888

The number of animals you can keep on your property in the Balonne Shire is dictated by Council's Local Laws and Queensland Legislation, and is determined by the size of your property. Animals other than dogs do not need to be registered, but some do require a permit. 

Animals must be kept in a way that does not cause nuisance to others through noise, smell or wandering. 

How many Animals you can keep in Town

Keeping of other Animals - Permit Application

If you decide to keep an animal, you have a duty of care to provide for its needs.  

Before getting an animal, find out if it has any special needs. You should always make sure you have the time, money, space and capability to care for an animal before you get it. 

For more information, please read Council's fact sheet on the minimum standards for keeping animals.

Minimum Standards Fact Sheet

BIOSECURITY QUEENSLAND - under the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is the government's lead agency for animal welfare activities in Queensland.  

It develops, monitors and enforces animal welfare policy, legislation and standards, and educates the community about animal welfare. 

Biosecurity Queensland and the RSPCA work in partnership to provide animal welfare services in Queensland. 

Inspectors from Biosecurity Queensland and the RSPCA investigate complaints about animal care or cruelty in Balonne Shire and ensure compliance with the Act. Inspectors also help educate animal users about their responsibilities, and promote the Act and other agreed animal welfare standards. 

For more information, visit www.daf.qld.gov.au

RSPCA QUEENSLAND - is the state’s oldest, largest and leading animal welfare charity, dedicated to improving the lives of all domestic, farmed and native animals throughout Queensland. 

It provides helpful information for animal care, searches for missing animals, rehomes pets, rehabilitates both domestic animals and wildlife, and teaches people of all ages about animal welfare, among many other functions. 

For more information, visit www.rspcaqld.org.au

Inspectors from Biosecurity Queensland (under the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) deal with cases of animal neglect in the Balonne Shire.

If you are in charge of an animal, you have a Duty of Care to that animal - no matter why you are in charge of it, what you are using it for or how long it will be in your care, you are legally obliged by the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to provide 'appropriate care'. This includes:

1. providing food and water;
2. providing accommodation or living conditions;
3. understanding your animal's normal behavioural patterns;
4. treating disease and injury;
5. handling the animal appropriately.

To report animal neglect, call 13 25 23 or for more information, visit the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website