Rural & Animal
6. Dog Attacks
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 25 Aug 2015
- It is illegal for a dog to rush at, attack, bite, harass or chase a person or another animal other than vermin. It is also illegal for a person to urge or encourage a dog to do this.
- As a dog owner you can be charged with an offence if you encourage your dog to do this or if the dog does it of its own accord.
- The dog involved may also be seized or secured and in some cases destroyed.
- If you are convicted you can be disqualified from owning a dog or from being in control of a dog in a public place for up to five years.
- The exceptions to this offence are:
- where the dog has been teased, mistreated, attacked or otherwise provoked; or
- a person or animal was trespassing on property and the dog was reasonably defending a person or property.
- The penalties are heavier when the dog has been declared dangerous or is a ‘restricted’ dog under the legislation.
View more Information on Industry Areas