The City of Melville appreciates that a barking dog can severely disrupt people’s lives.
If a dog barks continually without reason, the cause may be lack of training, insufficient exercise, loneliness, inadequate shelter, ill health or deliberate or unintentional provocation by people or roaming dogs.
Residents are encouraged to try to improve the barking situation by:
- Politely speaking to the dog owner and advising them that their dog is causing a nuisance. If you are not comfortable speaking directly with your neighbour, an anonymous Bark Card can be dropped in their mailbox.
- If you have contacted the dog owner and are getting no results, contact us by phoning customer service on 1300 635 845, or by report the barking dog online.
You may be asked to provide evidence in the form of a 'Barking Diary'. These diaries need to be as accurate as possible, the initial diary will cover a 7 day period. Further diaries will be required to be completed as part of the investigation should the investigating officer request.
We encourage the reporting of all dog incidents and or attacks. You can call the council office during business hours on 1300 635 845 or after hours on 0418 943 219. You can also complete a Dog Attack Statement Form.
A dog does not have to inflict a wound for it be classed as an attack. Our rangers investigate each report, even if an injury has not occurred, to provide the dog owner with information to prevent any future incidents or attacks. If you report an attack, our rangers may get in contact to ask you some questions about the incident.
If a dog attacks a person or an animal the owner or person in control at the time may be held responsible. The number and severity of reported dog attacks is constantly monitored.
Please note: City Rangers are unable to assist in any recovery of costs associated with a dog attack. Customers may pursue this issue as a civil action between the parties involved.
The council may declare individual dogs 'dangerous' for offences such as attacking or repeatedly rushing, threatening or chasing people or animals.
If a dog is declared dangerous, the owner will be required to:
- Ensure the dog wears a specified collar indicating a dangerous dog
- Display warning signs indicating a dangerous dog at all access points at the premises at which the dog is kept
- Have the dog microchipped
- Providing clearly signposted, child and dog-proof enclosures
- Notify the local government if a dog attacks, goes missing or moves to another owner or address
- Notify the council if a female dog has puppies
Commercial guard dogs need to be specifically registered and their owners will be required to meet similar requirements.
A restricted dog is defined as a breed whose importation into Australia is prohibited under the Commonwealth Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. At present this includes:
- Dogo Argentino (Argentinian fighting dog)
- Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian fighting dog)
- Japanese tosa
- American pit bull terrier
- Pit bull terrier breeds
- Any dog of mixed breed that visibly contains any of the above prohibited breeds
The regulations require owners to:
- Ensure the dog wears a specified collar indicating a dangerous dog
- Display warning signs indicating a dangerous dog at all access points at the premises at which the dog is kept
- Keep the dog in a child-proof and escape proof enclosure when at home
- Leash and muzzle the dog while in public places, or confine it in an enclosed place if not.
- Have the dog sterilised
- Notify the local council within 24 hours if the dog is missing or if ownership changes
- Advise a new owner in writing that their dog is a restricted breed
- Be 18 years or over and ensure persons in charge of the dog in public places are also 18 or over. (The leash or chain must be held by a person who is physically able to control the dog)
The City can enforce penalties of up to $5,000 for any breach of the legislation. Residents of the City of Melville may have two restricted dogs per owner without a permit.
According to the Commonwealth Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, dogs for dangerous or restricted dogs need to:
- Bear alternating red stripes and yellow stripes, each stripe being 25mm wide and set at an angle of 45 degrees to the rim of the collar
- Reflect light from at least one of those colours so that the collar can be rendered visible in darkness
- Be made of durable material
- Be capable of being securely fastened
- Be capable of being attached to a leash
- Have a minimum width of:
- 15mm for a dog weighing less than 10kg
- 25mm for a dog weighing 10kg or more but less than 20kg
- 40mm for a dog weighing 20kg or more but less than 40kg
- 50mm for a dog weighing 40kg or more
A sign must be displayed informing that a dangerous or restricted dog is on the property.
The sign must:
- Be a white rectangle measuring 200mm by 300mm
- Made of a durable material
- Contain the word 'WARNING'' in white capital letters, 30mm high on a red rectangular panel measuring 190mm by 45mm near the top of the rectangle
- Contain below the 'WARNING' panel:
- a red circle 160mm in diameter containing the black head and neck of a dog 100mm high wearing a collar
- the words 'DANGEROUS DOG' in capital letters 20mm high
If your dog excretes on a street or public place, you must remove and adequately dispose of it. Failing to remove or dispose of excret, is an offence under the City of Melville Dog Local Laws.
The council provides pooch pouches and bins on reserves to dispose of dog excreta. If your local park does not have any, submit a request for maintenance of doggie bag bins and pouches.
Upon registering your dog, you must make a declaration to certify that the fences and gates at your home are capable of confining your dog within your premises. Gates must also have effective self-closing mechanisms.
The Dog Local Law 2021 has now been published in the Government Gazette (11 August 2021) and comes into effect on 25 August 2021.
View Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Dogs in Western Australia