Dogs
There are many benefits to owning a dog. They are great pets, provide companionship, can guard homes, help with farming duties and assist people with hearing, sight or mobility impairments. There is also evidence that pet ownership offers health benefits.
Owning a dog also comes with responsibilities. The City of Victor Harbor is committed to supporting responsible pet ownership.
Dog leashing requirements in public places
24/7 on-lead areas
Dogs must always be held on a leash that does not exceed two metres when in the following areas:
- Hindmarsh River Estuary sand dunes
- Inman River Estuary sand dunes
- Wright Island
- Warland Reserve
- Soldiers Memorial Gardens
- Soldiers Memorial Reserve
- Petrel Cove
- John Simmons Park
- C M Thorpe Park
- John Crompton Reserve
- Identified Hooded Plover breeding sites
Dogs should also be held on a leash that does not exceed two metres while on streets, roads or in public places.
On/off-lead areas on beaches
The foreshore area between The Bluff and Chiton Rocks (excluding the river estuary sand dunes which are 24/7 on-lead areas) are subject to the following requirements:
- Daylight Savings (October to March)
- Dogs must be on-lead between 10am and 6pm
- Dogs may be off-lead but must be under effective control between 6pm and 10am
- Non-Daylight Savings (April to September)
- Dogs may be off-lead but must be under effective control
Your dog is considered to be under effective control if you can see your dog at all times, you are able to control your dog in any circumstance and your dog is in close proximity to you. Your dog should not run up to other people or animals without permission, nor should it chase, harass or cause a nuisance to any person, animal or bird. This may mean that to be under effective control your dog needs to be on a lead at all times.
Victor Harbor Dog Park
The Victor Harbor Dog Park is located on Council land situated on the corner of George Main Road and Oval Park Road, Victor Harbor.
The dog park is open to the general public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's a great space for like-minded people to meet, socialize, have a laugh and exercise their dogs. You are welcome irrespective of whether you have a dog or not.
The dog park is a fully fenced area and car parking is available adjacent to the park in the Recreation Centre car park.
The dog park has been divided into large and small dog exercise areas, so you can choose to exercise your dog in either the large area or the small area, whichever area you feel more comfortable in with your dog.
Drinking water is available onsite for your dog from two water stations.
Registering your dog
Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) is the statewide database for all dog and cat registrations in South Australia.
Dog registrations are required to be renewed annually between 1 July and 31 August. Registrations are due on 31 August each year.
Please be advised that Council will charge a fee of $21.00 for late payment of registrations.
It is a requirement of the Dog and Cat Management Act that all dogs, aged three (3) months or over, are registered. It is an offence to keep an unregistered dog and there is an expiation fee of $170 per unregistered dog.
Identification
In addition to the requirements for your dog to be micro-chipped, the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires your dog must, when not confined to your premises, wear a collar around its neck with the last issued registration disc for the dog.
To assist in the identification of a lost dog, please ensure that the permanent registration number is legible on the disc, badge, tag or other device and securely attached to your dog’s collar. You are also encouraged to include name, phone and any other contact details to that device.
Microchipping and desexing requirements
The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires dogs and cats to be microchipped before 12 weeks of age or at the point of sale. Dogs and cats born after 30 June 2018 must also be desexed before 6 months of age or within 28 days of ownership. A veterinary surgeon may grant an extension of time to desex a dog or cat or exempt an animal from desexing or microchipping if it poses an undue risk to health or adversely affects the growth, development or wellbeing of the dog or cat.
Microchip details and desexing certification must be recorded on the statewide database Dogs and Cats Online.
Dog Registration Fees effective 1 July 2023
| Non standard | $93.00 |
| Standard | $46.50 |
| Concession non standard | $46.50 |
| Concession standard | $23.50 |
| Working dogs | $33.00 |
| Racing greyhounds | $36.00 |
| Puppies under six months (microchipped) | $46.50 |
| Puppies under six months - concession (microchipped) | $23.50 |
| Guide, hearing or assistance dogs | $0.00 |
| Business registration (breeders) per dog | $93.00 |
| Replacement disc | $10.50 |
| Late registration fee from 31 August 2023 | $21.00 |
Concessions
Concessions are available to pensioners and healthcare card holders. To be eligible for concessions, you must provide proof of desexing and microchipping when registering your dog on Dogs and Cats Online (DACO).
Transferring a dog registration
To transfer a dog registration to a new owner visit Dogs and Cats Online (DACO).
It is important to register a dog registration transfer to help make sure your pet is returned to you if it is lost.
Unregistered dogs
If you have been reported for keeping an unregistered dog, you will be issued with a Council Expiation Notice for the amount of $170.00 per offence. The expiation allows a payment period of 28 days from the date of the notice.
In addition to receiving an expiation, you are required to register the dog(s) within 14 days. Failure to do so, will automatically result in the issue of a further $170.00 penalty. If for any reason you are unable to comply with the registration requirements within the 14 day period, you should first contact the City of Victor Harbor Council Office to request an extension of time.
You must be at least 16 years of age to register a dog.
Number of dogs permitted
Only two dogs may be kept at a residential house within the township. Dog owners can request an exemption for more than two dogs by completing the Application to keep additional dogs at a premises.
Only one dog may be kept in a flat, unit or small property.
Only three dogs, other than working dogs, may be kept at premises outside the township.
Dog attacks
After a dog attack incident, if you or your pet sustains injuries you should seek medical or veterinary treatment as a priority. When safe to do so, you must report the attack to Council on 8551 0500.
Reporting the incident
Like all serious incidents, time is a critical factor in dealing with dog attacks. This is especially important if the offending dog is wandering at large and still poses a risk to the public or other animals. To help Council staff, please try to gather the following information before contacting us:
- the date, time and exact location of the attack. If you’re not sure, use your GPS equipped smart phone to check on a map
- a description of the offending dog - registration disc, name tag, breed, colour, sex, markings, collar size and colour
- a description of the owner - name, address, contact phone number, male or female, age, hair colour, clothing
- if a car was involved and the offender drove away with the dog - car registration number, make, model, colour
- a description and photographs of any injuries and location on your body or your pet's body.
You should also keep copies of any medical certificates, vet or doctor bills as evidence.
What happens when a dog is reported?
- Authorised Council Officers may take a statement or affidavit from you
- Photos may be taken of any injuries to yourself, or your animals or birds.
- The dog's owner will be contacted to get their side of the incident.
- Council Officers could seek witness statements and other evidence
- Council Officers assess the circumstances and evidence and make a decision for action
- Council will then issue legal notices as required, and;
- Inform the parties of the outcome.
Who is responsible?
As a dog owner, you are responsible for your dog’s actions. It is an offence for a dog to attack, harass or chase a person, another animal or a bird owned by a person. This is as per the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.
Depending on the severity of the attack, Council can:
- issue a warning
- impose an on the spot fine of $315 as of 1 July 2017
- take direct court action (in more serious cases)
- impose a control order (Nuisance, Dangerous Dog, Menacing Dog, or Destruction Order)
- The maximum penalty for a dog attack is $10,000 or imprisonment for 2 years.
Preventing dog bites
Dogs bite for many reasons. The most common reasons are fear, pain or confusion when mixing with people and other dogs. Ignoring signs of aggression can result in serious injury to you, a member of your family or others. You can discourage biting by:
- socialising your dog from an early age so that it learns how to mix with other dogs and other people in public
- avoiding situations that may cause your dog to become nervous or anxious
- training your dog - obedience classes help you learn about your dog, its body language and how you can communicate with it
- desexing your dog. Research shows that, on average an entire dog is more aggressive. Note that desexing dogs is mandatory (with exemptions)
- asking your vet for advice if your dog shows any signs of aggression towards people.
For more information on being a good dog owner, visit Dogs and Cats Online.
Noisy dogs
Noisy dogs are one of the most common complaints received by Council. Noises can include yelping, howling, barking, crying or growling. Excessive noise is deemed to be an offence under the provisions of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 when the noise persistently occurs or continues to such a degree that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort and convenience of another person.
In the first instance, residents are encouraged to try and resolve the issue with the owner of the dog. In many cases, dog owners may not be aware that their dog barks when they are not home. A politely worded letter or conversation can resolve many issues. If this proves unsuccessful, you can make a formal complaint to Council.
Lost or found dogs
If you have lost or found a dog, please report the information to the City of Victor Harbor immediately on 8551 0500. Council has a lost dog collection service available between 9am - 5pm weekdays. We make every effort to reunite you and your pet as soon as possible.