Pets can be great companions and research suggests that they have many health and well being benefits.  Owning a pet is rewarding and comes with important responsibilities.  Your responsibilities as an animal owner ranges from ensuring your pet has a safe and secure living environment with adequate food and water to ensuring that your pet is exercised and entertained.  In public you must ensure your pet is properly controlled and well behaved.

Cat and Dog Registrations

Registration of your dog or cat must be renewed annually by 31 August.  You will receive a renewal notice in July each year for the renewal of registrations and late fees will apply after 31 August.  It is the pet owner's responsibility to update their pet's details in the Dogs and Cats Online Database (dogsandcatsonline.com.au) when there has been a change of address, death or change of pet ownership.

More information about dog and cat registrations can be found here.

Dog Owner's Responsibilities:

As a dog owner in Roxby Downs you are required to:

• Register your dog(s) at 3 months of age. You can register your dog here: dogsandcatsonline.com.au
• Microchip your dog before it reaches 12 weeks of age or within 28 days of taking ownership of the dog.
• De-sexing is also compulsory for all new generations of dogs (born after 1 July 2018), before the dog is 6 months of age or within 28 days after the owner first takes possession of the dog, whichever is the later. Exemptions may apply in certain situations and should be discussed with Council.
• Apply for a permit if you wish to keep/house more than two (2) dogs at your place of residence.  Application form.
• Prevent the dog from barking to the annoyance or nuisance of others.  Please contact Council on (08) 8671 0010 for more information and resources.
• Pick up after your dog(s) if they defecate in a public place.
• Prevent your dog(s) from attacking, harassing or chasing a person, animal or bird, whether or not actual injury is caused.
• Prevent your dog(s) from wandering unsupervised.
• Walk or run with your dog(s) on a chain, cord or leash not exceeding 2 metres in length in public places.  The only exception is if you are within the confines of a designated off-leash dog park.

Cat Owner's Responsibilities:

As a cat owner in Roxby Downs you are required to:

• Ensure that any cat staying in the Council's area for over 14 days is registered in accordance with the Cats By-Law 2016.
• Apply for a permit if you wish to keep/house more than two (2) cats at your place of residence. Application form.
• Prevent your cat(s) from causing a nuisance (interfere with the peace and comfort of a person, create unpleasant noise or odour, wander onto land without the consent of the owner or occupier).

If you do not follow the above conditions of dog or cat ownership you risk an expiation under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and Dogs By-Law 2016 and Cats By-Law 2016.

Further information about our By-laws can be found here.