All dogs over the age of 3 months must be registered. Registration and ensuring your dog is wearing its tag means your pet can be identified quickly should they wander off. Registrations can be made for one or three years or the lifetime of your pet. Registrations (excluding lifetime tags) expire on 31st October of each year.
If your dog is already registered with a one or three year tag, you will receive a registration renewal form prior to the expiry date on the tag.
For puppies and dogs new to the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, please download the registration form and visit the Shire office to complete your dog’s registration. Proof of micro chipping will be required.
Lifetime registrations are available for both sterilised and unsterilised dogs. If you pay the full registration for an unsterilised dog, being $250, a refund of $150 is available if you have that dog sterilised in the first year of that lifetime registration. Refunds of $100 and $50 respectively are available when dogs with a lifetime registration are sterilised in the second and third year from the registration date. No refund is available after three years.
Dog Registration
Designated dog exercise areas within the Shire are listed below, follow the link to view the map.
Bridgetown Sports Ground
Dorothy Scott Reserve
Greenbushes Sports Ground
Memorial Park
Somme Creek Parklands
In dog exercise areas, dogs must be on a leash or under the control of the person at all times. In all other public places, dogs must be on a leash at all times. Please note, dog waste bags are available at other locations throughout the Shire – these are provided as a courtesy and do not indicate the area is a designated dog exercise area.
All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a nuisance. Excessive, persistent barking is one of the most disruptive neighbourhood issues and requires immediate attention. Dog owners are required to take reasonable action in regard to nuisance behaviour such as barking. Failure to do so, may result in an infringement notice being issued.
If you have a dog whose barking is becoming a nuisance, refer to the information vis the link below for some tips on how to address the problem. You can also take your dog to obedience classes or speak to your veterinarian for advice.
Tips
If you live near a dog that is barking excessively contact the Shire. You can choose to approach the owner as they may be unaware of the problem. If you feel the owner may be unapproachable and/or the problem behaviour persists, you can formalise the process by completing a Nuisance dog form and dog barking diary.
Barking dogs Information for dog owners
Nuisance dog form and dog barking diary
DANGEROUS DOGS
The Dog Act 1976 has recently been amended to strengthen the provisions around dangerous dogs. Any dog can be dangerous. The Act identifies three types of dangerous dogs:
- restricted breed as recognised under the Act;
- declared by the Local Government; and
- commercial security dog.
RESTRICTED BREEDS
The following breeds of dogs have been identified by the Commonwealth Government as being particularly aggressive. They have been banned from import into Australia and each State and Territory has introduced legislation to protect the community from these breeds.
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese tosa
- American pit bull terrier
- Pit bull terrier
- Perro de presa Canario or Presa Canario
- A mix of two or more breeds, one being a restricted breed.
DECLARED DOGS
Local governments are able to declare a dog dangerous based on its behaviour.
Reasons that a dog may be declared dangerous include the dog:
- causing injury or damage by an attack, or chasing, a person or animal;
- repeatedly showing a tendency to attack or chase, a person, animal or vehicle; or
- threatening to attack.
A local government must give written notice to the owner declaring the dog to be dangerous. Seven days after the notice is given, the declaration takes effect. The owner must comply with the Act to identify their dog as a declared dog and put in place the protection measures within the seven days.
More information on Dog Act
WANDERING DOGS
As a dog owner you MUST make sure that your dog is not able to wander off your property. A condition of registration is that all dogs be wholly confined within their premises. Wandering dogs may be impounded. A penalty may be incurred. If your dog causes damage, or injuries to a person or another animal while it is wandering, you may be liable for the damage.
If you find a wandering dog, contact the Shire as soon as possible. If you keep the dog without reporting it to the Shire, the dog’s owner may not be able to find it.
If your dog is missing, contact the Shire as soon as possible. The dog may have already been impounded or reported as being picked up by someone else, in which case the Shire can advise you of the dog’s whereabouts.