Restricted & dangerous dogs

Council has responsibility for ensuring that dangerous and restricted dogs are kept as per State Government requirements and do not pose a risk to the safety of the community.

Dangerous dogs

Council may classify a dog as 'dangerous' if it has, without being provoked, attacked or killed a person or animal or repeatedly threatened to attack or chase a person or animal (other than vermin, such as rats). This means that owners must keep their dog as per the requirements outlined in the Companion Animals Act 1998 and Companion Animals Amendment Act 2005.

Restricted dogs

The NSW State Government has classified a range of dog breeds as restricted. This includes dogs that are of a specific breed, a kind of breed or are a cross-breed of a restricted dog.

The following breeds are classified as restricted:

  • American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier,
  • Japanese tosa,
  • dogo Argentino,
  • fila Brasiliero
  • any dog containing any part restricted breed, declared by a Council under Division 6 of the Companion Animals Act,
  • any other dog of a breed, kind or description prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation.

Owners of restricted dogs must ensure that a range of requirements are met or they can face severe penalties.

Enclosures for dangerous and restricted dogs

The Companion Animals Amendment Act 2005 requires that dangerous and restricted dogs must be kept in an enclosure that complies with requirements outlined in the Companion Animals Regulation.