Increase in dog attacks and barking complaints

Published: 14 July 2021. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Animal management officers responded to 7489 animal related complaints over the past year, compared to 8130 in the previous 12 months.

However, there were 684 dog attacks reported in the 2020-21 financial year, a 35% increase on the previous financial year (507).

There was also a 42% increase in barking complaints over the past 12 months, with 1183 in 2020-21 compared to 833 in 2019-20, an increase of 14% in fines issues (533 in 2020-21 compared to 467 in 2019-20), and a 77% in after hour calls (2145 in 2020-21 compared to 1211 in 2019-20).

Wandering dog complaints were down 21% in the past 12 months.

Council rehomed or returned 776 pets to their owners in the past 12 months, with 1104 dogs and cats cared for at the animal management facility.

Council has allocated an addition $500,000 in this year’s Budget to expand its animal management capacity.