Animals

Council’s aim is to have a dog friendly region, dog owners are reminded to keep their dogs on a leash at all times while in public places unless it is a designated off leash area, this prevents your dog from destroying native wildlife or endangering themselves, other people and other dogs.

Owners are reminded to pick up after their dog, this is not only common courtesy to others but your duty as a responsible pet owner. Cleaning up after your pet helps prevent the spread of unwanted diseases. Council officers continually patrol the region and can issue on the spot fines so be a responsible pet owner and be considerate of others as well as visitors to our beautiful region.

You can be a responsible pet owner by doing the following

• registering and de-sexing your cat and/or dog at an early age
• ensuring your cat or dog is kept contained to your property at all times
• identifying your cat or dog with a collar, registration tag and a microchip
• providing a balanced diet and clean, fresh water at all times
• choosing a breed of dog or cat that is suitable to your home and lifestyle
• socialising your dog as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals and teaching it correct behaviour
• exercising your dog regularly - always walk your dogs on a leash and under the control of a responsible person while in public places
• controlling dogs if they bark
• keeping your dog or cat healthy by ensuring that its vaccinations, including parvovirus, are up to date, and that it receives a healthy and balanced diet

All dogs must be registered within the Bundaberg Region from 12 weeks of age.

Did you know if you microchip and desex your dog you will receive a reduced registration fee?

To receive the reduced rates, complete the Dog Registration form to update your dog's details with proof of being desexed and/or microchipped.

To pay your dog registration online, register your dog, amend an existing registration, change ownership of your dog or to renew a lapsed dog registration please follow the links below.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to register my dog?

The Queensland Government has introduced new legislation throughout Queensland to make registration of all dogs compulsory. Compulsory registration of dogs aims to:

• Promote responsible pet ownership throughout the community
• Provide for responsible animal ownership programs
• Reduce the number of unwanted dogs at animal shelters
• Enable dogs to be identified and reunited with their owners
• Provide safety and security for your dog, you and the community

When should I register my dog?

Under the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 dog owners must register their dog once it reaches 12 weeks of age and within 14 days of acquiring a new dog and within 14 days of moving to the Bundaberg region.

How do I register my dog?

To register your dog with Council, please complete the online application form. You may need to have ready a digital copy of the dog's desexing certificate and your dog's microchip number.

How much will it cost to register my dog?

Council offers discounted rates for dog registration if any of the following applies:

• The dog is desexed, or
• The owner holds a pension concession, or
• The dog is an assistance dog, or
• The dog is categorised as a working dog under the Animal Management (Cats & Dog) Act 2008

Refer to Council Fees and Charges to find out how much it will cost.

Council's Schedule Fees and Charges

When is registration due?

The animal registration period for dogs is 1 September to 31 August. Once registered you will receive your registration renewal notice in July.

How will my dog be identified as registered?

A tag will be provided when you register or re-register your dog. On the tag is a unique number that will identify you as the owner and assist Council officers should they need to locate the owner of a tagged animal. Personal details are not shown on the tag.

If your dog is microchipped, the microchip number should be provided to Council as an additional means of identifying your dog. All dogs are scanned for a chip upon arrival at Council’s pound and any relevant information relating to any injury or the location where the animal was found are recorded.

My dog is a working dog, does that affect my registration?

Under the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008, a working dog is a dog usually kept or proposed to be kept:

• On rural land; and
• By an owner who is a primary producer, or a person engaged or employed by a primary producer; and
• Primarily for the purpose of droving, protecting, tending or working of stock.

Please complete the online application form to register your animal, this form includes the application to register a working dog.

How many dogs am I allowed on my property?

Residents are allowed to keep a maximum of two dogs on an allotment with an area less than 40,000m2 or a maximum of one dog on premises which are multi-residential premises.

Application can be made for an additional third dog where extenuating circumstances exist.

To apply complete the online application form, which includes the application to keep more than the maximum number of animals. Please note, application fees apply.

Do I need to microchip my dog?

Unless exempt under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 the Act requires all owners microchip their cat or dog before it is 12 weeks old.

Do I need to desex my dog?

Desexing is not compulsory unless the animal is a regulated dog. However, owners are encouraged to have their dogs desexed to assist in reducing the large number of unwanted dogs which are euthanised each year.

Council provides seven dedicated enclosed off-leash parks and one off-leash beach area (Woodgate foreshore) where owners may exercise their dogs. The Bargara North and Bundaberg East dog parks are a large single enclosure, the remaining parks have separate 'small' and 'all-dogs' enclosures.

• Apple Tree Creek, Apple Tree Creek Community Park (View Location Map(PDF, 2MB))
• Bargara (north), Nielson Park, Fred Courtice Avenue (View Location Map(PDF, 5MB) )
• Bargara (south), Mary Kinross Park. (View Location Map(PDF, 1MB) )
• Bundaberg East, Daph Geddes Park (View Location Map(PDF, 1MB) )
• Bundaberg North, Edina Street Park (View Location Map(PDF, 5MB) )
• Burnett Heads, Jack Strathdee Park (View Location Map(PDF, 1MB) )
• Moore Park Beach, Lions Park (View Location Map(PDF, 2MB) )
• Woodgate foreshore - (View Location Map(JPG, 507KB) ) but limited to - the foreshore from a point 50m south of the most southerly pedestrian beach access to a point 200m north of the Burrum River entrance; and the foreshore from a point seawards of the most northerly residence abutting the beach to the Theodolite Creek entrance.

Please remember to be considerate of others when using the off-leash areas. Owners are legally responsible for the actions and behaviour of their dogs at all times.

Dog rules and etiquette

Being a responsible pet owner means you are legally responsible for your pet’s behaviour at all times, so it's important you are in control. Following a few simple rules ensures a visit to an off-leash area is enjoyable for everyone:

• biting, fighting and aggressive dogs are not welcome
• pets should be under effective control or voice control at all times
• pets should have current vaccinations
• always clean up after your pet
• don't bring more dogs than you can handle
• fill any holes your dog digs
• provide your dog with water
• always be considerate of others
• dogs must be registered
• dogs must be leashed at all times prior to entering and leaving an off-leash area. It is also important to stay near your pet and constantly monitor them in an off-leash area, especially in the vicinity of children
• even in off-leash areas, it is important to stop your dog from causing a nuisance or being aggressive towards other dogs - at no time should your dog impede other people's enjoyment
• when exercising your pet in off-leash areas, remember to take a litter bag with you and dispose of your dog's waste appropriately

These restrictions are designed to ensure optimum safety for the public and our environment. Council officers will be patrolling and may issue on-the-spot fines.

Council understand dogs and their owners appreciate beachside recreation but there are a few simple rules that need to be observed to protect the environmental aspects of our beautiful beaches and ensure all beach users have a safe and enjoyable experience.

1. Check the beach isn’t a “dogs prohibited” beach
2. Keep your dog on a leash at all times (unless in a designated off leash area)
3. Clean up after your dog

Council officers regularly patrol local beaches and are available to answer questions relating to dogs and their access to beaches.

For more information about dogs on our beaches please see the PDF maps below:

• Bargara
• Burnett Heads
• Coonarr
• Elliott Heads
• Innes Park
• Mon Repos
• Moore Park Beach
• Woodgate

Regulated dogs

The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 enhances community safety through the introduction of state-wide management of regulated dogs from 1 July 2009.
A regulated dog is a dog that is subject to legal regulations. There are three types of regulated dog in Queensland:

• declared dangerous dogs
• declared menacing dogs
• restricted dogs

For further information regarding regulated dogs please contact Council's Regulatory Services on 1300 883 699.

Restricted dogs

Under the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008 he 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

Please note that restricted dogs (including any crossbreed of restricted dogs) are strictly prohibited from being kept within the Bundaberg Regional Council local government area. If your dog is one of the breeds listed above, please contact us for further information.

Conditions of use for dog off leash areas in the Bundaberg Region.

Dogs may be let off-leash in the specificed off leash area if:

• The dog's owner is present and is over 18 years old.*
• The dog is under effective control at all times.**
• The owner is always considerate of other people using the area.
• Dogs showing aggression are promptly leashed and removed.
• Wildlife and other animals are not chased.
• Natural vegetation is not damaged.
• Dog waste and litter is disposed of appropriately.

* The dog owner is the person in control of the dog and is accountable for any impact caused.

** Effective control means your dog responds to your commands and remains close to you.

Find more information on dog off leash parks in the Bundaberg Region.

If your animal has been impounded, it will appear on the impounded animal list after it has been processed at the Animal Management Facility.

Processing times may vary so please check the list regularly.

Animal management staff need to be able to identify an animal to return them home.

An animal can’t be identified in the following situations:

• The animal is not wearing a Council registration tag.
• The animal is not microchipped.
• The animal’s microchip details are not current.

• Registered animals that are impounded are kept for 5 days.
• Unregistered animals that are impounded are kept for 3 days.

After this time, Council endeavours to rehome all animals where possible through external rehoming agencies.

Animals are not rehomed directly from the Animal Management Facility.

If your animal is not on the list, please call Council on 1300 883 699 or complete the lost and found animal online form to lodge your lost animal’s details.

Lost or found animal form

It is recommended to regularly check the list of impounded animals and to contact animal shelters / rehoming agencies in the region to see if your pet has been delivered to another organisation.

If you have found a lost animal, please contact Council on 1300 883 699 or complete the lost and found animal online form.

Lost or found animal form

The animal management team will attend and attempt to identify an owner via a Council registration tag or microchip.

If the animal’s owner cannot be identified it will be secured at Council’s animal management facility.

If your animal is being kept at the Animal Management Facility, please contact Council on 1300 883 699 or visit a Council service centre to arrange the release of your animal.

Please note that only the legal owner of the animal can release the animal from our facility.

Prior to releasing your animal, payment is required for the following:

• The release of the animal from the animal management facility
• Unpaid registration fees (if applicable)
• If the animal is identified as not being implanted with a PPID (microchip), a microchip fee will apply.

If your animal is impounded for longer than 5 days for registered animals or 3 days for unregistered animals, a daily sustenance fee is applicable after 48 hours of impounding.

Stock release fees vary with the type of animal. View Council’s fees and charges for a full list of applicable charges.

Council's fees and charges

Council operates a single Animal Management Facility (Pound) which is located on DeCourcy Drive approximately halfway along Potters Road, next to the Qunaba Transfer Station.

It operates Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Customers must arrive no later than 4 pm to allow time for processing the release of the animal.

Please note that no cash will be accepted at the animal management facility.

If paying by cash to release your animal, please complete the payment at a Council service centre prior to collecting your animal.

Proof of payment is required to release your animal.