Animals

Pet ownership is one of the greatest delights for many residents across the Bundaberg Region.

Along with this ownership comes a responsibility to care and protect your pet. Council is charged with a regulatory responsibility to ensure pet owners abide by State imposed regulations as well as Council's local laws. In 2008, the Queensland Government introduced the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

The aim of this new Act is to establish a consistent approach to animal management in Queensland though mandatory identification and registration of cats and dogs. The Act promotes the responsible ownership of cats and dogs and provides the effective management of "regulated" dogs. Our staff take great pride in their commitment to the region's pet owners and their pets and the need to balance that care with their responsibilities to the wider community.

Council's animal management team provide an essential service to the community. Staff help to keep the community and animals safe by responding to, and investigating, all animal related requests. During an operational year Council's animal management team receive nearly 10,000 requests, more than 180 requests per week.These requests include:

• wandering dogs (about 20 per week)
• impounded animals (about 30 per week)
• animal nuisance complaints (about 30 per week)
• barking dog complaints (about 10 per week)
• stock wandering/lost/found (about 10 per week)
• incidental animal enquiries (about 90 per week)

Responsible dog ownership

Bundaberg Regional Council’s aim is to have a dog friendly region, dog owners are reminded to keep their dogs on a leash at all times while in public places unless it is a designated off leash area, this prevents your dog from destroying native wildlife or endangering themselves, other people and other dogs. 

Owners are reminded to pick up after their dog, this is not only common courtesy to others but your duty as a responsible pet owner. Cleaning up after your pet helps prevent the spread of unwanted diseases. Council officers continually patrol the region and can issue on the spot fines so be a responsible pet owner and be considerate of others as well as visitors to our beautiful region.

You can be a responsible pet owner by doing the following

• registering and de-sexing your cat and/or dog at an early age
• ensuring your cat or dog is kept contained to your property at all times
• identifying your cat or dog with a collar, registration tag and a microchip
• providing a balanced diet and clean, fresh water at all times
• choosing a breed of dog or cat that is suitable to your home and lifestyle
• socialising your dog as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals and teaching it correct behaviour
• exercising your dog regularly - always walk your dogs on a leash and under the control of a responsible person while in public places
• controlling dogs if they bark
• keeping your dog or cat healthy by ensuring that its vaccinations, including parvovirus, are up to date, and that it receives a healthy and balanced diet