Bayside Council promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.
Learn more by visiting the NSW Office of Local Government.
As a pet owner, you have a responsibility to keep the pet and the people around you safe and free from nuisance.
As a pet owner, you must:
- Register your cat or dog (link to pet registration page)
- Only keep animals that are suitable for your property
- Only keep the number of animals or birds appropriate for your property
- If appropriate, check with the body corporate to see if there are rules about keeping animals
- Keep your animals in clean and healthy conditions
- Ensure your pet’s do not become a nuisance to others
- Take whatever steps necessary to avoid attracting vermin, creating offensive noise or odours, causing a drainage nuisance, or annoying your neighbours
It is recommended to desex your dog by 6 months of age or cat by 4 months of age. to help prevent unwanted litters and reduces the risk of health and behavioural issues. Owners of non-desexed cats or dogs over this age must pay an additional one-off registration fee. Visit the NSW Pet Registry for more information on desexing and registration requirements.
Council Responsibilities Regarding Pets
Council has a responsibility to:
- ensure residents and business can operate in a healthy and safe environment
- set the rules and regulations that govern pet ownership in Bayside
- enforce NSW legislation (including the Companion Animals Act 1998 and Companion Animals Regulation 1998) and our Keeping of Animals Policy
- investigate complaints
Most animal complaints are resolved in cooperation with the animal's owner. If the complaint can’t be resolved cooperatively, the Local Government Act 1993 allows Council to issue an order to an animal owner that requires them to:
- change the way they look after their animals
- limit the number or type of animals on their property
- stop them from owning an animal.