Environment and Infrastructure
Animal Management
The Compliance team are involved with a diverse range of animal management activities including:
- Dog management
- Feral cat management
- Nuisance noise from dogs and roosters
- Lost and found animals
The team works in partnership with the community to provide suitable animal management services and take a leading role in enhancing quality of life for our community through our role. Below, you will find a suite of information to help you with your enquiry.
For further information, please contact a Compliance Officer on (08) 8555 7000 or email alex@alexandrina.sa.gov.au
Lost or Found Animal - 8555 7000
If you have lost or found an animal, please report the information to the Alexandrina Council immediately.
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We have a 24 hour call centre on which you can report your details - 8555 7000
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We have a dog collection service available 8.30 am - 8.00 pm, 7 days a week - 8555 7000
We maintain an up-to-date listing of all animals that have been lost or found and make every effort to reunite you and your pet as soon as possible. If you have lost your pet, Alexandrina Council also encourages you to contact the RSPCA on 8382 0888 and your local Vets.
Dog information
Dogs In Our Community - fact sheet
Dog Owners - Handbook
Dog Registration
Dog registrations are required annually on the 1st of July and expire on the 30th June the following year. It is the responsibility of every dog owner to re- register your dog by the 31stAugust each year
- Every dog 3 months of age or over is required to be registered by law
- The penalty for keeping an unregistered dog is an $80.00 expiation fee
- A limit of two dogs apply per residential household or Council permission is required
- Dog owners are reminded that penalties apply for offences under Dog & Cat Management Act 1995
- You must be 16 years of age to register a dog in your name
- You will need to provide proof of desexing, microchipping, training, Pensioner or Health Card to recieve the applicable fee concessions
Free First Registration Program - Alexandrina Council offers free first registration for all newly-acquired puppies and rescue dogs. To qualify, puppies must be under 6 months of age and rescue dogs must have been acquired from a registered animal shelter (proof will be requested). This means you can register your new puppy as soon as you bring it home to ensure that it is given every opportunity to be reunited with you should it happen to stray.
Dog Registration - form
Dog Registration - fees
Advice of change of dog registration details - form
Permission for more than 2 dogs
Councils ByLaw limits the number of dogs on one property at 2 (working dogs exempt). If you would like to apply to have more than 2 dogs on your property, please complete the attached application form and lodge the form at the time of registering the dog. Please be aware that Alexandrina Council can revoke this permission if conditions are not met.
Details assessed by Council may include but are not limited to:-
- Size of your property
- Breed of dogs
- Current Registration details of existing dogs on your property
- Reason for request
- Fencing details
- Any previous history relating to the dogs and property
- You may be required to obtain neighbours consent. Council will advise if this is required.
Application for more than the prescribed number of dogs - Application form
Dog Attack
To report a DOG ATTACK or harassment incident, please contact a Compliance Officer on 8555 7000 as soon as possible after the incident.
All attacks should be reported to Alexandrina Council as soon as possible to prevent further incident. Alexandrina Council is committed to the thorough and transparent investigation of all reports of dog attack and harassment and an enforcement response that aligns with Council policy. Your cooperation is sought to ensure that the best possible outcome can be achieved following an incident of dog attack or harassment. Please refer to the attached outline of Council's dog attack investigation procedure for further information
Council's dog attack investigation procedure
Barking Dogs
Barking Dogs - fact sheet
What can I do if I am experiencing a problem with a barking dog in my neighbourhood?
Residents are encouraged in the first instance to try to solve the problem with the owner of the dog. Generally, the owner of the dog may not know it barks when they are not there. A politely worded letter or a calm discussion can resolve many issues. We have attached a sample letter that may help you with this below.
To report a NUISANCE BARKING DOG COMPLAINT, please contact a Compliance Officer on 8555 7000. Please refer to the 'outline of Council's dog barking complaint handling procedure' below for further information.
Council's dog barking complaint handling procedure
Alexandrina Council is committed to the thorough and transparent investigation of all nuisance barking dog complaints. This process will require your involvement and will include the requirement for keeping several sets of bark counting diaries to quantify the nuisance and to determine if interventions are abating the nuisance.
What can I do to help resolve nuisance barking from my dog?
Alexandrina Council recommends you read the attached information to help you better understand the reasons for nuisance barking in dogs and determine how best to resolve the nuisance barking from you own pet.
My dog is noisy - Dog and Cat Management Board fact sheet
Alexandrina Council can assist you with your barking dog through the loan of bark control equipment, which have shown to be effective in assisting to rectify this problem in some dogs. This equipment can be hired to you for up to two weeks to assist in reducing the barking or determining when the barking occurs.
Please contact Alexandrina Council during business hours so we can assist you with your enquiry and discuss the temporary hire of the most suitable barking dog equipment to meet your needs.
Enforcement - Dog Offences
The following information is provided to assist those who may have been issued with an Expiation Notice for a dog offence. The information is provided as a general guide and should not be taken as legal advice.
Alexandrina Council undertake animal management activities to keep the preserve the amenity of our community and keep our community safe. Our officers are committed to undertaking thorough and transparent investigations of all incidents before undertaking enforcement action. In accordance with Alexandrina Council’s Enforcement Policy, at times Authorised Dog Management Officers may issue expiation notices under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, largely as a means of deterring repeat offences. Enforcement activities are based on risk and not on achieving quotas for revenue.
You are strongly encouraged to refer to the actual legislation prior to making any decision in relation to payment of an Expiation Notice issued. It should also be noted that only some of the most common offences have been listed on this page – it is by no means an exhaustive list.
Relevant Legislation
For the purpose of managing animals within the community, Council staff are authorised to issue Expiation Notices in accordance with the requirements of the following acts. Should you require further information regarding the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, you may like to direct your enquiry to your legal advisor.
Expiation of Offences Act 1996
Penalties and Payment
All expiation fees are set by the relevant Minister and are not a decision made by an individual local government. Late fees may be added to any expiation if payment is not made within 28 days. Failure to pay an expiation to Council may result in the expiation being referred to the Magistrates Court where further penalties may apply.
Some offences, such as unregistered dog, may result in subsequent expiation notices being issued if the offence has not been rectified.
Disputing your expiation notice
If you believe the expiation issued is incorrect, unfair or where there is a legitimate reason for the offence, please read the 'Disputing your Expiation Notice' fact sheet below before lodging an application for waiving the offence, which if lodged, must be done so with a statutory declaration, supported with evidence and MUST be in writing:
Disputing your expiation notice - fact sheet
Paying your expiation notice
Payment for Expiation Notices may be made in full in person using cash, credit card, cheque or money order at the Goolwa or Strathalbyn Offices of Alexandrina Council. Postal payments may be made using a cheque or money order. Payment may also be made over the telephone using a MasterCard or Visa Card. We aim to have the option for online payments in the near future.
All fees associated with offences against the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 are determined by the state government and reviewed on an annual basis. Councils do not set or have input into the fee structure.
Common Offences
For your convenience please find below a summary of some of the most common offences committed by dog owners (or those responsible for the dog at the time of the offence) for which Expiation Notices may be issued. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list:
Unregistered dog - Dogs are required to be registered with Council by 31 August each year. Failure to register a dog may result in expiation. Further expiations may be issued for every 14 days that the dog remains unregistered. A dog must be registered with the Council in which it is currently residing after it has been there for a period of 14 days (it is possible to transfer a registration from another Council if the dog has been registered elsewhere for a small transfer fee). All dogs must be registered once they have reached 3 months of age. Failure to receive a dog registration renewal notice is not a reason to waive an expiation for an unregistered dog. Please note that maximum dog registration fees are set by the relevant Minister and can be applied by Councils up to this maximum rate, with concessions available in prescribed circumstances.
Dog Wandering at Large - A dog is considered to be Wandering at Large if the dog is in either a pubic or private place without the consent of the occupier and is not on a leash or if the dog is in a park without either being on a leash or without being under effective control by command. For the dog to be considered under effective control, the dog must be in close proximity and able to be seen by the person to whom the dog is under control.
Dog Attack - A person who owns or is responsible for the control of a dog is guilty of an offence if the dog attacks, harasses or chases or otherwise endangers the health of a person or an animal or bird owned by or in the charge of another person (whether or not actual injury is caused). A Control Order may also be applied in accordance with the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and Council’s Enforcement Policy and Standard Operating Procedures.
Should I have my dog desexed?
We encourage owners to have their dogs desexed and offer a reduction in the registration fee for desexed dogs. Desexing reduces the desire for dogs to roam, reducing the risk of your dog escaping and becoming lost. Scientific research has shown that desexing your dog reduces territorial and aggressive behaviour, whilst not changing your dogs personality. It settles them down and makes for a more contented dog.
Should I have my dog microchipped?
We encourage owners to have their dogs microchipped and offer a reduction in the registration fee for microchipped dogs. Microchipped dogs carry with them a permanent identification and can be reunited with their owners much sooner. Please note that it is the dog owner's responsibility to ensure their details are kept up to date in the microchipping database. Please be aware that microchipped dogs are still required to wear a current registration disc.
Adopt a Dispenser
Alexandrina Council and residents have great pride in our parks, gardens, walkways and beaches. Dog waste is an increasing health and environmental risk and is recognized by Alexandrina Council as a community concern.
A dog waste bag dispenser is a small cylindrical shaped galvanized steel or stainless steel unit which holds rolls of dog waste bags. They are mounted to posts and railings in the council area, with appropriate dog control signage. They contain degradable, dog waste bags which can be carried by dog owners and used to collect their dogs droppings whilst out walking. All of Council's dog waste bag dispensers are adopted and managed by a community member or community group.
Alexandrina Council has approximately 40 Dog Waste Bag Dispensers located within our townships and along our foreshores. The dog waste bag dispensers have been placed in areas that have been identified by dog owners as high use exercise areas.
Adopt a dispenser application form - fact sheet
Cat information
Alexandrina Council coordinates a feral cat program which aims to reduce nuisance colonies throughout the area. This program is currently under review. Please return to the website after July 2013 for updated information.
Cats In Our Community - fact sheet
Cat Trap - fact sheet ( program currently on hold )
Poultry information
To report a NUISANCE NOISE complaint in relation to roosters, please contact a Compliance Officer at Alexandrina Council on 8555 7000.
Alexandrina Council is committed to the thorough and transparent investigation of all nuisance rooster complaints. The process will require your involvement and will include the requirement for keeping several sets of nuisance noise diaries to quantify the nuisance and to determine if interventions are abating the nuisance.
Keeping Poultry - fact sheet
Horse information
Goolwa Beach offers horse enthusiasts the unique opportunity to ride on part of the Fleurieu Peninsula's most pristine coastline. It is important that horse owners are aware of both the changing landscape of Goolwa Beach and Council’s conditions associated with the riding of horses on this stretch of land.
Horses are only permitted to be exercised on the area of Goolwa Beach described in the attached fact sheet. This fact sheet is your permit to ride on Goolwa Beach and must be carried with you at all times whilst on Goolwa Beach.
Please be advised that this area is a public road and a shared space, so please respect the rights of all other beach users, including the general public, 4WD vehicles and dogs.
Please keep our beach beautiful, clean and safe by following the conditions of the fact sheet.
Horses On Beaches - fact sheet
Other Animal information
Related information
Animal Services In Our District
