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Dog ownership
Your Dog and the Law
By law, dog owners must take responsibility for their pet's actions. There are penalties for owners who disregard the dog laws.
Responsibilities
Council needs to be notified in writing about any changes of dog ownership so its records can be kept up to date.
In a residential area, Council limits each household to two dogs.
The Dog Act of 1976 provides that owners need to ensure that their dog:
Recommendations
Parents should not let children walk a dog on their own, unless they are confident that the child can control the dog in any situation.
Riding a bicycle with the dog running alongside is dangerous.
On The Spot Fines
| Failure of alleged offender to give name and address | $100 |
| Dog not held on leash in certain public places | $100 |
| Unregistered dog | $100 |
| Dog in place without consent | $100 |
| Dog causing nuisance | $100 |
| Failure to remove dog excreta | $40 |
| Non-control of dog in excercise and rural areas | $100 |
| Dog in a public place without a collar or registration tag | $50 |
| Greyhound not muzzled | $200 |
NOTE:
Dogs that have been deemed dangerous carry double the penalty.
DOG ATTACKS - Maximum Penalty is $10,000
Impounded Dogs
Impounded dogs are taken to the Dog Refuge Home at Shenton Park. Each dog impounded incurs an impound fee of $40 and a board fee of $10 per day. These fees must be paid before a dog is released. Also a registration fee is required to be paid if the dog is unregistered.
As well, when a dog is impounded, an infringement notice may be issued for the dog not being contained. In addition, further infringement notices may be issued if the dog is not registered and does not have the name and address of the owner attached to a collar worn by the dog.
Dog Exercise Areas
Wellington Square.
NOTE: It is important that all owners remove their dogs excreta from all reserves and public places within the City of Perth.
Registration
All dogs over the age of three (3) months of age need to be registered. Owners of unregistered dogs can incure a $100 on the spot fine.
People wanting to register their dog need to fill out the Dog Registration form (see link on this page) and bring it in to the Customer Service Centre (Ground floor of Council House) or post it in with all the relevant documents and appropriate fee.
(Please note that the Dog Registration Form is only for dog owners within the City of Perth local government boundary.)
The City of Perth postal address for Dog Registration Forms is:
GPO Box C120, Perth, Western Australia 6839
Proof of sterilization and/or pension details need to be included with registration form if relevant.
The State Government determines the registration fees which are as follows:
| Standard Fees | 1 year | 3 years |
| Unsterilised Dog or Bitch | $30 | $75 |
| Sterilised | $10 | $18 |
| Pensioners Fees (50% off) | ||
| Unsterilised Dog or Bitch | $15 | $37.50 |
| Sterilised | $5 | $9 |
Registration period is 1 November to 30 October
Sterilisation
Before Council can register a sterilised dog it needs proof of this fact. It is usually provided by a Veterinary Surgeon's Certificate or a Statutory Declaration made by the owner.
Dogs owned by Pensioners
Upon presentation of a current Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card, half the usual fee applies.