Pet Care
Taking ownership of a pet can be a very satisfying experience so make sure you know all the regulations and responsibilities of keeping an animal with the articles below:
- Types of Animals
If you are looking to keep an animal on your property make sure you are aware of the regulations that may exist.
- Complete Guide to Dogs
Find all the information you require on the regulations for the ownership of Dogs.
- Ownership Guide for Cats
Be a responsible cat owner by adhering to the City of Rockingham's regulations.
- Applying for an Exemption
Find out if you are allowed to keep more than the prescribed number of animals.
The City of Rockingham Health Local Laws 1996 have a number of provisions relating to the keeping of specific animals, the number that can be kept and the manner in which they should be kept, in order to maintain good standards of public health. This means you unfortunately cannot keep all animals in residential areas, please see below for a list of animals and any exemptions:
A large animal shall not be kept on any land except within the rural and special rural zones of the district. A large animal is defined as any of the following:
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If you have a neighbour who currently keeps any of the large animals above you can make a complaint.
Poultry includes the following animals:
- Fowls
- Peafowls
- Turkeys
- Geese
- Ducks
Any of the above and the like shall not be kept on any land except within the rural and special rural zones of the district where up to 20 poultry may be kept. Roosters must also only be kept within the rural and special rural zones of the district, however a person may apply for an exemption to keep poultry in areas other than rural and special rural zones but not all applications are successful.
Pigeons shall not be kept in numbers greater than 20, on any premises within the district. A person who is an Affiliated Person may make an application to keep a total of no more than 150 pigeons (exclusive of young birds).
Miscellaneous birds, including all birds other than poultry and registered homing or racing pigeons, shall not be kept in numbers greater than 20 on any premises within the district. A person may apply for an exemption to keep more than 20 miscellaneous birds.
A person shall not, without an exemption in writing, permit the keeping of bees on any land within the district except within the rural and special rural zones of the district.
Find out everything you need to know when owning a dog from registrations to public responsibilities.
The Dog Act 1976 addresses the following important regulations:
- Control and registration of dogs
- Ownership and keeping of dogs
- Obligations and rights of people, both as dog owners and non-dog owners.
The Dog Act 1976 also allows Councils to develop specific local laws for dogs. The Local Dog Laws are also available as a PDF File Download
Dogs must be kept on a leash (no longer than 2 metres in length) in all public places. Whilst walking your dog on a leash you must be capable of controlling it, should for example, the dog attempt to run off or fight another dog.
Even in “dog exercise areas” where dogs may be let off leashes, the dog must be under your “effective control”. This means you must have the leash with you and be able to immediately restrain the dog and put the leash back on if necessary.
The owner of a dog may also be liable for damages if the dog effects other people and/ or property whilst it is out of the owner’s control, such as causing a car accident by running onto the road.
Heavy penalties will be imposed under the Act if a dog chases or attacks any person, animal or bird, even if no injury is caused. (Maximum Penalty $10,000)
In some instances the Council may seek a court order for a dog to be destroyed if it has attacked and caused injury or damage.
The dog’s owner is also liable for any injury or damage resulting from a dog attack and the person (if applicable) who has been attacked may take private legal action for any injury or damage caused.
Many people have dogs to help protect their homes as they feel safer when they have a dog so the law recognises their rights in this area.
The Dog Act provides a defence, in certain circumstances, for a dog owner to claim that their dog was provoked to attack. For example, provocation may apply if your dog attacks someone who is on your property “without lawful excuse”, such as a burglar.
A defence of provocation may be claimed if your dog attacks another animal that enters your property or behaves in a threatening manner towards you. Provocation may also be a defence if your dog is in a vehicle and attacks someone intruding into or upon the vehicle, or if the dog has been teased or assaulted. When your dog is in a parked car always make sure you leave the windows down but not enough for your dogs head to fit out of.
Thousands of dog attacks are reported in Perth and country areas every year with some attacks resulting in horrific injuries and trauma. If your dog displays aggressive behaviour, it is extremely important you address it quickly with appropriate training.
What is defined as a Dangerous Dog?
Local governments may declare a dog “dangerous” if it attacks, shows a tendency to attack or repeatedly rushes, threatens or chases people or animals. Once a dog is declared dangerous it will have to be muzzled at all times in a public place. Local governments may also impose further restrictions, such as requiring that the dog be kept on a leash when in dog exercise areas or that it be excluded from specific areas.
An owner who fails to comply with a declaration order on their dog may be fined up to $4,000. Owners can appeal to the relevant local government or a local court if they believe that such an order is unfair.
A dangerous dog declaration will only be removed by the local government if it is satisfied that the dog is safe (i.e. by passing an obedience training course). The muzzle requirement and any other restrictions will then be lifted.
For many offences on-the-spot fines are doubled when the offence involves a declared dangerous dog.
Barking is a dog’s natural means of communication and often signifies its alertness to danger or intruders. However, a dog which persistently barks in a manner which is not considered to be normal, can constitute a nuisance. If a dog does bark continually without reason the cause may be:
- Lack of training
- Insufficient exercise
- Loneliness
- Inadequate shelter
- Ill health
- Deliberate or unintentional provocation by people or roaming dogs
The on-the-spot fine for allowing your dog to bark persistently is $100. If taken to court, the fine could be up to $2000. If your dog does bark constantly please consider the impact of your dog’s behaviour on your neighbour relationships.
If you have a neighbour with a nuisance dog please try contacting the neighbour first verbally and in writing if necessary.
The Rockingham Dog Obedience Club has been provided to Council as a club who wishes to conduct dog obedience classes. Further details can be obtained by telephoning 9592 1900.
The following areas have been designated as dog beach exercise areas:
- The public beach bounded on the east by Rockingham Road, on the north by the northern boundary of the district, and on the west by a prolongation of Weld Street.
- The public beach bounded on the east by Hymus Street and extending generally in a westerly direction and then in a southerly direction and bounded on the south by Boundary Road.
- The public beach bounded on the north by a prolongation of McLarty Road, on the east by Arcadia Drive and on the south by the northern boundary of Mersey Point carpark.
- The public beach bounded on the west from the eastern side of the Bent Street boat ramp, on the north by Safety Bay Road and on the east from the western side of the Donald Drive boat ramp.
- The public beach bounded on the north by, and 40 metres to the north, of a prolongation of Shelton Street, on the east by Blakey and Fendham Streets and on the south my a prolongation of St Malo Close.
- The public beach bounded on the north by the northern-most part of Capella Pass car park beach access and extending generally in a southerly direction for a distance of 1km.
- The public beach bounded on the north by the boundary of Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour and in a southerly direction to the public beach access of Siracusa Court carpark.
- The public beach bounded on the north by a prolongation of Crystaluna Drive and extending in a southerly direction for a distance of 500 metres.
- The public beach bounded on the north by a prolongation of Bight Reefs Road and extending in a southerly direction to the southern boundary of the district.
In approved exercise areas (“off leash”), the dog may only be allowed off the leash when the person responsible for the control of the dog is close by and able to control the dog. These areas are not set aside exclusively for use by people with dogs as other people may use these areas for various activities, and the dogs must NOT cause a nuisance to others.
When the dog is off the leash, a leash or other restraint must be carried in your hands at all times.
With the exception of guide and hearing dogs, dogs are not permitted in any of the following places:
- Where indicated by a sign
- A public building;
- A theatre or cinema;
- All premises or vehicles classified as food premises or food vehicles under the Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations 1993
- A public swimming pool and
- Any public beach as indicated by a sign or signs.
The City of Rockingham has provided special bins and bags (typically a bright yellow bag attached to the bins) for dog excreta in a number of reserves. The penalty for not picking up dog excreta is $100. If you find a bin with a low number or no bags please report this to the Landfill / Waste Disposal Department.
Dog excreta in the garden should also be removed daily to reduce fly and health related problems.
Apart from the owner of the dog, a responsible person includes the occupier of any premises where the dog is ordinarily kept or permitted to live, or a person who for the time being has the dog in his or her possession or control.
Keeping a cat may seem simple but there are many aspects of looking after a cat that you will have to spend time on...
What does cat overpopulation have to do with me?
How can I care for my cat more responsibly?
- The first litter is the main source of supply to cat overpopulation – 40% of cat owners deliberately have a first litter
- Last year 15,000 healthy excess cats and kittens were destroyed in Perth alone
- Uncontrolled cats mating or fighting at night is the major source of noise complaints to councils as it is VERY annoying for other residents
- Free ranging unsterilised male cats spraying on doors, door mats and cars is unfair to neighbours and is very annoying and unattractive. Sterilised male cats wander less and their urine doesn't have a high hormonal odour.
- Sterilised cats are healthier, live longer and are less of a nuisance to the community.
Many lost or injured cats never find their homes simply because they have no identification:
- Microchipping is the safest form of identification for cats, who are then registered at a central computer data base.
- Stretch collars, with an identification disc, are suitable for most cats.
- Sterilised cats are marked with a tattoo in the ear to prevent further unnecessary surgery if the cat gets lost and is rehomed.
Advertise, contact neighbours, vets and animal shelters if you have lost your cat, it may have lost its identification.
Preferably cats should be confined to a pen or house at night – between 8pm and 7am as cats are nocturnal (that is animals of the night). They will wander further at night and may typically:
- Attack Wildlife
- Get hit by a car
- Become savaged by dogs
- Get into fights with other cats which can leave you with a vets bill totalling hundreds of dollars
- Protect territory by fighting with other cats predominantly during the night
FALSE: cats are healthier if sterilised by 5 ½ and not attacked by free range diseased tom cats.
FALSE: Male cats are the worst because they are driven to fight for mating territory are at risk from abscesses, leukaemia and cat AIDS
FALSE: sterilisation is not cruel - killing kittens is. Death from birth complications are common as well as the mistreatment of unwanted kittens.
FALSE: the experience is rarely continued by taking the children to a cat refuge to see excess kittens being destroyed. Most children are upset even knowing when cats are not coming back.
Companion cats depend on their owners for protection:
- WHY put them at risk?
- WHY let your cat have kittens when there is a cat overpopulation and 7 out of 10 have to be destroyed?
- WHY take a free kitten and not save one from a refuge?
- Spayed and neutered pets are better, more affectionate companions. Unsterilised cats often bite children, adults and relatives.
A community project developed by the Cat Sterilisation Society (08) 9397 5062 in conjunction with your local council, Australian Veterinary Assoc, Cat Haven Refuge, Animal Protection Society & RSPCA (W.A.) Inc.
Copyright Cat Sterilisation Society 1997
A person shall not keep more than two (2) cats over the age of three (3) months on any land within the district, except within the rural zone of the district where catteries may be permitted. A person may apply for an exemption to keep more than two (2) cats.
When applying for an exemption to the City's Health Local Laws 1996 it is recommended you discuss the matter firstly with Council's Environmental Health Officer on 9528 0315.
In certain circumstances, the general restrictions imposed by the Local Laws relating to the keeping of animals can be varied. Certain discretionary and exemption provisions contained within the Local Laws and applications shall only be considered where Council is satisfied that the number of animals to be kept will not be a nuisance, or injurious or dangerous to health. For example if 3 cats cannot be successfully controlled, neighbours may become annoyed at cat fights during the night so therefore they are a nuisance.
To enable Council to determine if a nuisance or health risk would be likely to arise in respect of any application, the applicant must provide the following:
- Written comment from all contiguous landowners and/or occupiers.
- Details of the number and type of animals to be kept.
- A plan of the proposed enclosure, which indicates the dimensions and location in relation to a dwelling on the same property as the proposed enclosure, and the location in relation to all dwellings on surrounding properties.
- Details of a management plan to be employed by the applicant to contain any potential nuisance or health risk (e.g. How will the enclosure be kept clean?).
- Acknowledgement in writing that the applicant understands that the Council may cancel an exemption should council be of the opinion that such cancellation is warranted; and
- Acknowledgement in writing that the applicant will comply with any terms or conditions the Council may impose relating to an approval or exemption.
- An application fee of $27.50
