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Animal Issues Council is able to provide assistance with management of a number of animal issues and concerns. Barking dogs Ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem: loneliness, separation from its owner, boredom, frustration, attention-seeking, fear, or threat to territory. Obedience training and discipline are very important – a dog can be trained to be alone and to bark only on command. Dogs are social animals and require a certain amount of interaction on a daily basis. If your dog barks when you are away from home, it is probably due to loneliness. Try giving your pet stimulants such as balls and chew toys to keep them occupied while you are away. You could also try giving your dog a bone when you leave the house, which gives the dog a positive association with your departure. Behavioural changes can sometimes be achieved simply by walking your dog twice a day to relieve boredom. If you are being bothered by a neighbour’s barking dog, your first step should be to discuss the problem with the dog’s owner and let them know when it is a problem. If you are unable to resolve the problem through discussion, you can report it to council by contacting council's customer service centre. A council officer will contact you to discuss the problem, provide advice and, if necessary, seek more information. If an investigation is necessary, your assistance may be needed to collect evidence to establish the extent of the problem. Council will also provide an information pack to assist the dog owner to resolve the barking problem. Roaming dogs If you have found a wandering dog you may tie it up or contain it on your property and contact council's customer service centre to arrange collection. Cages are available from council at no cost if you wish to impound dogs roaming onto your property and causing a nuisance. For further information, please contact council's customer service centre. Wild dogs and feral or stray cats To report sightings and incidents caused by wild dogs and feral cats, please complete the Wild Dog Incident and Sightings Record [PDF 27KB] and return the form to council's customer service centre. If you wish to capture feral or stray cats wandering onto your property causing a nuisance, cages are available from council at no cost. If you catch a stray or feral cat, notify council via the customer service centre and a council officer will collect the animal. Council also provides a 1080 baiting service to rural landholders who can meet Department of Primary Industry criteria. Regulated dogs The term 'regulated dog' is used to refer to:
Definitions
Note: Any new registrations for persons wanting to register dogs of these breeds will not be accepted. If a dog attacks you or your pet:
Once a dog has been declared dangerous, the owner must comply with certain council requirements. On the Sunshine Coast, owners of these dangerous breeds must advise council that they own one of these dogs. Owners are required to:
Livestock To report livestock straying onto public roads, contact council's customer service centre. If livestock have strayed onto your property and you do not know who owns them, it is your responsibility to locate the owner. As a last resort, property owners may impound the livestock and call council for further advice. Please note that council reserves the right not to impound livestock in these cases. Dead animals To report a dead animal on the road or on council-owned land, contact council’s customer service centre to arrange removal. Abused, injured or neglected animals To report abused, injured or neglected animals on the Sunshine Coast, contact:
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Print this PageLast Updated 01-Jul-09