Responsible pet ownership

• What are my responsibilities, as the owner of a cat or dog, under the Companion Animals Act 1998?
• Does my dog have to wear a collar and tag?
• What are my responsibilities when my dog is not in a public place?
• What are my responsibilities when my dog is in a public place?
• Does my cat have to wear a collar and tag?
• Do I have to keep my cat indoors?
• Are cats banned from some areas?
• Do I have animal welfare related responsibilities, as the owner of a cat or dog, covered under other legislation?
• What do I need to consider when buying a pet?
• Do I have to have my cat or dog desexed?
• Where can I get more information about caring for my cat or dog?
• What is the NSW Government doing to promote responsible pet ownership?
• Is a dingo right for you?

What are my responsibilities, as the owner of a cat or dog, under the Companion Animals Act 1998?

In addition to your responsibilities relating to microchipping and registering your cat or dog, updating your cat or dog's details on the NSW Companion Animals Register, ensuring that your cat or dog does not threaten or harm a person or animal (see dog attacks) and ensuring that your cat or dog does not cause a nuisance (see nuisance cats and dogs), you have other responsibilities. These are outlined below.

If you are the owner of a greyhound that has not successfully completed an approved greyhound re-training program such as www.greenhounds.com.au, a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog, you have particular responsibilities, with which you must comply.

Does my dog have to wear a collar and tag?

Yes. In addition to being microchipped all dogs, except working dogs, have to wear a collar and tag showing the dog's name and your address or telephone number when outside its own property.

If you fail to comply with this requirement, you may be liable for a maximum penalty of $880 or $5,500 for a restricted dog or declared dangerous dog.

What are my responsibilities when my dog is not in a public place?

You or the person in charge of the dog at the time, must take all reasonable precautions to prevent your dog from escaping from the property on which it is being kept.

If you fail to comply with this requirement, you may be liable for a maximum penalty of $880 or $5,500 for a restricted dog or declared dangerous dog.

What are my responsibilities when my dog is in a public place?

Dog must be under the effective control of a competent person

Your dog must, unless it is exempt from this requirement, be under the effective control of a competent person at all times when out in public. This means that it must be on a leash and under the control of someone capable of restraining it. A small child, for example, may not be able to control a large dog. Under these circumstances, an adult capable of restraining the dog, should walk the dog.

A dog is not considered to be under the effective control of a competent person if the person has more than 4 dogs under his or her control.

If you fail to comply with this requirement, you, or if you are not present, the person in control of your dog, if s/he is aged 16 or over, may be liable for a maximum penalty of $1,100 or $11,000 in the case of a restricted or declared dangerous dog.

This requirement does not apply to a dog:

• in an off-leash area (but only if the total number of dogs of which its owner has control does not exceed 4) or
• a dog engaged in droving, tending or working of stock or
• a dog being exhibited for show purposes or
• a dog participating in an obedience class, trial or exhibition or
• a police dog or
• a corrective services dog or
• a dog secured in a cage or vehicle or tethered to a fixed object or structure.

Off-leash areas

Dogs benefit greatly from the chance to run freely. Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, each council must provide at least one off-leash area where dogs can be exercised off-leash during certain hours.

You, or the person looking after your dog/s, should not be in control of more than 4 dogs at the same time and you, or the person looking after your dog/s, should be capable of controlling the dog/s at all times when in the off-leash area.

Contact your local council to find out about off-leash areas in your local area.

Cleaning up after your dog

If your dog defecates in a public place or on someone else's property, you must remove the faeces immediately and dispose of them properly. Many councils provide bins for the removal of dog faeces in places where dogs are often exercised and you should look for bins in your area.

If you fail to pick up after your dog, you or the person in charge of the dog at the time may be liable for a maximum penalty of $880.

Areas from which dogs are prohibited (excludes Police and corrective service dogs and genuine assistance dogs)

Dogs are banned from:

• within 10 metres of a children's play area
• within 10 metres of food preparation or consumption areas, except cafes or restaurants whose owners permit dogs (not restricted dogs or declared dangerous dogs) in their outdoor dining areas (see Dogs in outdoor dining areas)
• recreation areas where dogs are prohibited
• public bathing areas where dogs are prohibited
• school grounds
• child care centres
• shopping centres where dogs are prohibited
• wildlife protection areas.

For more information on dogs and wildlife protection areas click here.

Dogs in outdoor dining areas

A dog, except a restricted or declared dangerous dog, is allowed in the outdoor dining area of a cafe or restaurant with the cafe or restaurant owner's consent. Certain restrictions apply:

• The outdoor dining area must not be enclosed and must be accessible without the requirement to pass through an enclosed area
• The dog must be on a leash at all times
• The dog may be provided with drink, but not food
• The dog must be on the ground at all times

These restrictions do not apply in leash-free areas where:

• The dog does not have to be on a leash
• The dog may be given food, as well as drink, while it is on the ground (but not using any apparatus provided for the consumption of food by humans)
• The dog may sit on a person's lap (but may not sit on any table or chairs or make contact with other apparatus provided for the consumption of food by humans).

Does my cat have to wear a collar and tag?

No, but all cats, except cats being exhibited at a show or in transit to or from a show at which they will be exhibited, must have some form of identification when in a public place.

Cats born before 1 July 1999 (when the Companion Animals Act 1998 came into force) must be identified with either a microchip or a collar and tag with the cat's name and your address or telephone number on it.

Cats born after 1 July 1999 (when the Companion Animals Act 1998 came into force) do not have to wear a collar and tag with your contact details on it, but must be microchipped and lifetime-registered (unless they are exempt from these requirements).

If you fail to comply with this requirement, you may be liable for a maximum penalty of $880.

Do I have to keep my cat indoors?

You do not have to keep your cat indoors. However, you are encouraged to keep your cat indoors at night, as there are benefits to both the cat and the community.

Yowling and fighting is more of a problem at night. The noise is likely to be intrusive and may keep your neighbours awake. Keeping your cat indoors at night is recommended in the interests of both your cat's safety and community harmony.

Many kinds of native wildlife are more active or more vulnerable to hunting at night. There is also evidence that cats hunt more during the night. By keeping your cat indoors, you can help reduce the number of native birds and animals that are killed in your area.

Kittens can quickly become accustomed to staying indoors at night. Consider also containing your cat in a cat enclosure on your premises both during the day and during the night. For more information on building a cat enclosure click here.

Authorised council officers can issue nuisance orders to cat owners in certain circumstances see What is a nuisance cat?

For more information on cats and wildlife click here.

For more information on your responsibilities and applicable penalties see the Information for cat owners in NSW brochure.

Are cats banned from some areas?

Yes. Cats are banned from public areas where food is produced or consumed and from wildlife protection areas. There is considerable concern in the community about cats injuring or killing native wildlife.

Although the Companion Animals Act 1998 does not require you to contain your cat on your premises, you should consider doing so for your cat's own safety and for the protection of native wildlife.

You can contain your cat on your premises by keeping it indoors or by building a cat enclosure on your premises. For more information on building a cat enclosure click here.

For more information on cats and wildlife click here.

For more information on your responsibilities and applicable penalties see the Information for cat owners in NSW brochure.

Do I have animal welfare-related responsibilities, as the owner of a cat or dog, covered under other legislation?

As a cat or dog owner, you have a responsibility to look after your cat or dog's basic welfare needs, including:

• Provide your cat or dog with an appropriate balanced diet and clean, cool water at all times
• Ensure that your cat or dog has adequate shelter suitable for all weather conditions
• Ensure that your cat or dog is well socialised, trained and exercised
• Ensure your cat or dog's good health with regular veterinary check ups, worming, tick and flea treatments
• If you are not going to breed from your cat or dog, you are strongly encouraged to have it desexed (permanently sterilised) to prevent unwanted litters (see Do I have to have my cat or dog desexed?)
• Make sure that your cat or dog is looked after when you go away. If you are leaving your cat or dog in a cattery or kennel, make sure that the cattery or kennel complies with the NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 5 - Dogs and Cats in Animal Boarding Establishments)

If you neglect your cat or dog's basic welfare needs, you may be liable for fines and/or imprisonment under animal welfare and cruelty related legislation, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006 and relevant animal welfare codes of practice. These are administered by the Department of Primary Industries and enforced by NSW Police, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) New South Wales inspectors and Animal Welfare League NSW inspectors.

What do I need to consider when buying a pet?

You need to determine whether you have the time, lifestyle, environment and financial ability to provide a pet with a happy, loving and secure home. If the answer is yes, then you need to choose a pet that will best suit your lifestyle and environment.

Saying yes to a pet means that you are accepting a duty of care for its lifetime welfare.

Things that you need to consider when deciding what type of pet would best suit your environment and lifestyle include:

Your home and property:

• Is there adequate space?
• Can the pet be securely confined?
• Can you provide adequate shelter?
• Can you set up separate areas for pets and young children (if applicable)?

Your lifestyle:

• How much time can you (and your family, if applicable) devote to a pet?
• Will you have time to supervise young children with a pet (if applicable)?

The costs which could include:

• Purchase
• Housing
• Feeding
• Microchipping and registration
• Vet checks; vaccinations; and worming, tick and flea treatments
• Desexing (permanent sterilisation)
• Grooming
• Training
• Boarding

Once you have considered these factors, you may have a greater understanding of the type of pet that would suit you and your family. Sometimes, the most responsible thing you can do is to decide not to have a pet until your circumstances change.

If, however, you decide that a cat or dog would be the most suitable pet for you and your family, consider obtaining your cat or dog from a council pound, animal welfare organisation or animal rescue organisation. Many healthy cats and dogs are euthanased (put to sleep) each year because suitable homes cannot be found for them.

If you are buying a cat or dog and you are buying from a breeder, make sure that s/he is a reputable breeder and that his/her establishment and practices fully comply with the Animal Welfare Code of Practice - Breeding dogs and cats. If you are buying a cat or dog from a pet shop, make sure that it is a reputable pet shop and that it fully complies with the Animal Welfare Code of Practice - Animals in pet shops.

When you bring your cat or dog home, help it to gradually adjust to you and your family, its new surroundings and its new routine.

Do I have to have my cat or dog desexed?

Although you do not have to have to have your cat or dog desexed, unless it is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog, there are benefits in doing so for you and your animal:

• A greatly reduced lifetime-registration fee applies for a cat or dog that has been desexed,
• Your cat or dog is less likely to stray, be aggressive, fight or spray to mark its territory, and
• It helps reduce unwanted pets and pet overpopulation.

There is no scientific evidence to show that it is better to allow an animal to have one litter before being desexed.

Desexing before 6 months of age is recommended. If you cannot afford to have your cat or dog desexed, speak to your vet or an animal welfare orgainsation as they may be able to help.

Where can I get more information about caring for my cat or dog?

As a cat or dog owner, you have a responsibility to look after your cat or dog's basic welfare needs. These are listed under Do I have animal welfare related responsibilities as the owner of a cat or dog covered under other legislation? To view more detailed information on caring for your cat or dog, click on the links to some of the websites listed under Useful web links at Quick Links.

What is the NSW Government doing to promote responsible pet ownership?

The NSW Government has introduced a new Responsible Pet Ownership Education Program for 5 to 7 -year-olds. The Program is being delivered in schools in NSW by a team of pet educators and their suitability-tested dogs.

The Program uses multimedia, role-play, song and story to provide a range of stimulating activities that teach concepts relating to responsible pet ownership.

The Program focuses on teaching children about dog safety. It covers:

• when dogs should be left alone
• things we should not do to dogs
• how you can tell if a dog is happy, frightened or angry
• a safe way to approach and greet a dog
• what to do if approached by an unknown or aggressive dog

The Program also introduces and develops the following concepts:

• Choosing an appropriate pet
• General welfare and husbandry
• The importance of identification and registration
• Confinement and housing
• Exercise and training

A comprehensive curriculum and resource package incorporating picture story books, multimedia activities and teaching notes is available to all primary schools in NSW free-of-charge.
For more information, click here.