Find out about your responsibilities in caring for and managing dogs.
Dog care
Everyone who owns a dog has a responsibility to ensure that their dog is well cared for and does not cause a nuisance to others.
Keeping a pet dog can be a wonderful experience, however there is a lot to learn about keeping your dog happy and healthy, such as what to feed your dog, exercising your dog and more.
For more information on how to care for your dog, visit the RSPCA Knowledgebase website.
Dog management
All dogs over the age of three months that are kept within the Shire of Augusta Margaret River are required to be microchipped and registered. Apart from being a legal requirement, registration also assists Rangers in quickly reuniting dogs with their owners should they stray from home. In addition, all dogs must:
- Wear a collar with a valid registration tag (replacement tags can be obtained at the Shire offices or by contacting [email protected])
- Be adequately confined on their properties
- Be held on a leash in public places that are not designated dog exercise areas, and
- Be managed appropriately to prevent excessive barking and aggression.
Maximum number of dogs
The maximum number of dogs allowed without a permit is two within the townsite and four outside of the townsite. To apply for a permit to keep more than two dogs submit an application form.
There is a $56 application fee.
Rural Leashing
All recreation and road reserves under the care, control or management of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, excluding specified Dog Exercise Areas or a Dog Prohibited Areas, are classified as Rural Leashing Areas.
All dogs must be kept on a leash at all times when in Rural Leashing Areas.
Apart from being a legal requirement, Rural Leashing promotes responsible dog ownership to ensure the comfort, safety and health of the whole community.
Assistance dogs
An assistance dog is a dog that is trained or being trained by a representative of one of the following organisations:
- Assistance Dogs Australia Ltd
- Lions Hearing Dogs Inc
- Seeing Eyes Dogs Australia
- Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia and affiliated bodies
- VisAbility Limited.
Assistance dogs are permitted in all areas where dogs are otherwise prohibited.
More information and contact
For more information, please contact the Shire’s Rangers on (08) 9780 5255 or email [email protected]