Animals
Noisy Animals
Sometimes all that is required is for someone from the council to explain the problem to the owner. From our experience, often the owner is unaware that there is a problem. Unfortunately, some owners require more assistance and sometimes official action taken against them. To do this, Council requires more detailed information from you.
The Local Law (Keeping and Control of Animals) allows the Local Government to take action against an owner if an animal causes irritation or annoyance by excessive noise. Excessive noise is defined as noise that exceeds three (3) minutes accumulated time in any one (1) hour.
Convincing the owner to change their pet's habits is not easy, and the more information we have the easier it is to help you.
Registration
- WHAT TO REGISTER?
- Dogs need to be registered with Council.
- As of 17 October 2013, cats no longer need to be registered with Council. Cats are still required to be microchipped.
- WHERE TO REGISTER?
- Registration forms are available from Council Office (34 Gray Street, Hughenden).
Microchipping
New microchipping laws came into effect on 10 December 2010. Microchipping is the insertion of a small electronic device into the animal's skin. The chip can be read via the use of a microchip scanning device and the information about your pet accessed through a database anywhere in Queensland. If your microchipped cat or dog gets lost, or if it loses its collar and tag, it can still be identified and quickly returned to you.
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO MICROCHIP? There are three cases when microchipping your cat or dog is mandatory -
- If your cat or dog was under 12 weeks of age as of 10 December 2010 (minimum age for chipping is 8 weeks),
- If a cat or dog is being sold or given away, or
- If your dog is a declared regulated dog.
If you are unsure if your cat or dog is microchipped you can contact your local vet or the Council. More information can be obtained from Flinders Shire Council on (07) 4741 2900.
Animals in Public Places
Animals must be under effective control when in a public place. An animal is under the effective control of someone only if a person who is physically able to control the animal -
- is holding it by an appropriate leash, halter or rein; or
- has appropriately tethered it to an object fixed to a place from which the object cannot be moved by the animal and is continuously supervising the animal; or
- has corralled it in a temporary enclosure adequate to contain the animal and is continuously supervising the animal; or
- the animal is tethered in or on a vehicle and unable to reach beyond the vehicle extremities; or
- the animal is a dog in a dog off-leash area and under the supervision of a person who is able to control the animal by voice command; or
- the animal is participating in or being exhibited or trained at, an exhibition or an obedience trial supervised by a body recognised for this section by the local government; or
- the animal is a working animal actually engaged in moving livestock and under the supervision of a person who is able to control the animal by voice.