Council conducts annual Animal Inspection Programs to ensure that animals are:

• Being kept and registered in accordance with requirements of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Council’s Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011; and
• Animal owners are fully complying with the microchipping requirements of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

This is conducted by Authorised Officers visiting, and if necessary, entering yards of premises. These Authorised Officers have the authority to enter properties to conduct those inspections under Section 111 1(h)(i) of the Act.

Authorised Officers will take enforcement action with owners that had dogs registered in 2022/23 and have not renewed registration for the current registration period 2023/24.

Any new dogs that are sighted will result in owners being issued a Direction to Remedy and given 14 days to register their dog.

Council advises the fine for an unregistered animal is $309. The fine for failure to register after this is $774. Continued failure to register your animal may result in the animal being seized by Council at the owner’s expense.

Payment of the infringement does not include payment for the registration of the animal. The owner must pay the registration prior to the date indicated on the Direction to Remedy notice.

Council is very appreciative of the majority of responsible dog owners in our region who continue to register and microchip their animals.

This makes it easy for Council to understand how many pets are in the region and to reunite animals when they stray from home.

Unfortunately, a small minority of animal owners continue to disregard their mandated responsibility towards their pets.

For more information on animal registration and other animal regulations visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/registration or call Council on (07) 4970 0700.

Download this media release (PDF)

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