Dog owner obligations

Find out what your obligations are as a dog owner under the Dog Control Act 1996.

Your obligations as a dog owner can be found in Section 5 of the Dog Control Act 1996, which reads as follows:

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:
to ensure that the dog is kept under control at all times:
to ensure that the dog receives proper care and attention and is supplied with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter:
to ensure that the dog receives adequate exercise:
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:
to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not injure, endanger, intimidate, or otherwise cause distress to any person:
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:
to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dog does not damage or endanger any property belonging to any other person:
to comply with the requirements of this Act and of all regulations and bylaws made under this Act.

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