Control orders

Control orders can be placed for barking, nuisance, menacing, and dangerous dog offences.

If a dog is alleged to have attacked, harassed, chased or otherwise endangered the health of a person or an animal or bird owned by another person, the local council may investigate and may ultimately place an order on the dog. For dogs who have initiated a serious attack, a destruction order may be placed on the dog.

A control order can include (but is not limited to)

• Desexing and microchipping;
• Secure containment on a property;
• Wearing a specific collar and/or muzzle in public;
• Being physically restrained in public;
• Displaying warning signs on a property; and
• Completing specified training.

If a dog was seized, the council must advise the owner of any intention to issue an order on the dog within seven days.

Anyone selling or rehoming a dog with a control order, must notify the new owner of the details of the order, and the new owner is responsible for complying with the order.

Prohibition orders may be placed on owners who are responsible for dogs that are involved in more than one attack or harass incident, where dangerous dog control orders or destruction orders have been issued.

Questions about control orders should be directed to the council which applied the order.