Responsibilities whilst dog in a public place
All dogs in New South Wales must be on a lead when in a public place unless in a designated off-leash area.
A dog that is in a public place must be under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash that is attached to the dog and that is being held by (or secured to) a person.
Roaming dogs have the potential to cause community nuisance through a variety of unwanted activities including:Defecating on public or private propertiesDestructive behaviour towards property.Potential for traffic accidentsHarassing / aggressive behaviour towards others dogs or animals.Worst of all, an attack on another animal or person.
Many owners fail to realise their pet, which in many instances is an extension of their family, may be a nuisance to the rest of the neighbourhood. The best way to address these issues is to:Ensure that your dog is always walked on a lead enabling you to adequately control your dog at all times whilst in a public place.Adequately confine your dog to your property ensuring the dog does not escape and roam around.
An infringement notice will be issued for non compliance.
10 Essential Tips for Dog Owners
- Do not allow your dog to roam at any time.
- Exercise your dog regularly in an off leash exercise area to avoid problems associated with boredom.
- Ensure your dog is registered and microchipped.
- Pick up your dog’s faeces from public places and put it in a bin.
- Train your dog not to bark (Council can help you with this).
- Ask your adjoining owner if your dog creates any nuisance problems, and correct them.
- Avoid dog attacks, ensure your dog is friendly and comfortable with people.
- Keep your dog under ‘effective control by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash (and secured to a person) when in a public place.
- Ensure you choose the correct dog for your circumstances.
- Have your dog desexed if you are not a registered breeder.
Dogs in Parks Dogs are welcome in the parks; however, there are some rules you need to follow. Dogs are to be on a lead (and secured to a person) at all times and you need to clean up after them (on the spot penalty applies for non removal of faeces).
Dogs are prohibited from:
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 No 87; dogs are also prohibited from:
- Children's play areas (meaning any public place, or part of a public place, that is within 10 metres of any apparatus)
- Recreation areas indicating with relevant signage that 'Dogs are Prohibited'
- Food preparation/consumption areas
- Public bathing areas where dogs are prohibited (including beaches)
- School grounds, child care centres
- Shopping arcades or shopping complex (including parking or access to shops) and
- Wildlife protection areas eg Koala Beach, Cudgera Creek Hastings Point
Hastings Point / Cudgera Creek dog exclusion area
Council has designated a dog exclusion area encompassing land east of Tweed Coast Road from Yugari Drive north to Peninsula Street, including all foreshore areas of the Cudgera Creek estuary and the beach north of Cudgera Creek mouth to the shoreline adjacent to the Peninsula Street beach access walkway. The closure of this area to dogs is to protect significant shorebird and beach nesting bird habitat and reduce disturbance. Click here for map (837kB JPG)
Off Leash Dog Exercise Areas – Tweed ShireThe following rules apply whilst in a leash free area, these areas are patrolled and penalties apply for non compliance:
The following areas are approved dog off leash exercise areas within the Tweed Shire:
- All dogs are to be accompanied and supervised
- All dogs in the area must be able to be controlled without a leash ie under effective control.
- A dog is not considered to be under the effective control of a person if the person has more than 4 dogs under his or her control.
- Dogs that are declared dangerous dogs by Council (such as aggressive and restricted breeds identified by the Companion animals Act 1998) are not allowed to use any designated off leash areas
- Dog owners/controllers MUST remove all dog faeces that may be deposited by the dog under their control
- South Kingscliff Beach - from the boundary of Salt residential area north to the rockwall of Cudgen Creek.
- Boyds Family Park, off Piggabeen Road, Tweed Heasds West.
- Frangela Drive Reserve, Frangella Drive, Murwillumbah.
- River Street Park, between numbers 73 and 89 River Street, Murwillumbah.
- South Cabarita Beach - 200m south of Norries Headland to a point one kilometre north of Cudgera Creek.
- South Pottsville Beach - 200m south of the main bathing area at Pottsville Beach to 200m north of Black Rocks.
- South Fingal Head / Kingscliff Beach - access from Murphys Road Kingscliff to a point 0.5km south of the beach access point at the Fingal Head Quarry.
- Corowa Park - Corner of Chinderah Road and Terrace Street, Chinderah.
- Turnock Park - Corner of Chinderah Road and Chinderah Bay Drive, Chinderah.
- The riverbank reserve at the end of Old Ferry Road, Oxley Cove.
- Bilambil Road Park on the corner of Naponyah Road and Bilambil Road, Terranora.
- Amaroo Park on the corner of Darlington Drive and Amaroo Drive, Banora Point.
- Hibiscus and Oyster Point Park at the bottom of Bushland Drive, Banora Point.
- Ducat Park - Ducat Street, Tweed Heads.
Barking DogsSee Barking Dogs for more information.
Dangerous and Restricted DogsSee Dangerous and Restricted Dogs for more information.
Nuisance DogsA Nuisance Order may be issued if your dog is found to be repeatedly:
- roaming the neighbourhood
- making a noise
- defecating on other peoples property
- chasing a person, animal or vehicle
- causing damage to property
Working DogsA working dog (as described below) is exempt from registration if it is ordinarily kept on land rated as farmland. The definition of a working dog is: a dog used primarily for the purpose of droving, tending, working or protecting stock, and includes a dog being trained as a working dog. If the dog resides on land rated as farmland there are two avenues for the owner to establish the dog as a working dog.
- The first is for a Tweed Shire Council Ranger to visit the property to witness the dog perform the duties as a working dog.
- The second is for the owner to sign a Statutory Declaration establishing that the dog is a working dog, listing the duties the dog performs. This Statutory Declaration must be witnessed and signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I see a dog locked in a vehicle?
Please call Police immediately on "000". Only Police have the authority to gain access to a vehicle to remove an animal.
Who can I contact if I am concerned about the welfare of an animal?
Please contact the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 1300 278 358 or (02) 9770 7555, to report any animal welfare concerns.
Last Updated: 14 January 2016