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Dog owner responsibilities

The obligations of dog owners are contained in Section 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996.

These are:
1. To ensure that the dog is registered in accordance with this Act, and that all relevant territorial authorities are promptly notified of any change of address or ownership of the dog;
2. To ensure that the dog is kept under control at all times;
3. To ensure that the dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter;
4. To ensure that the dog receives adequate exercise;
5. To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not cause a nuisance to any other person, whether by persistent and loud barking or howling or by any other means;
6. To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger, intimidate, or otherwise cause distress to any person;
7. To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger, or cause distress to any stock, poultry, domestic animal, or protected wildlife;
8. To take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person;
9. To comply with the requirements of this Act and of all regulations and bylaws made under this Act.
Nothing in this Act limits the obligations of any owner of a dog to comply with the requirements of any other Act or of any regulations or bylaws regulating the control, keeping, and treatment of dogs.