Recently the Queensland State Government instituted changes to legislation pertaining to the ownership of animals (notably Cats and Dogs).
In the interest of making this information freely available to members of the public, the Mount Isa City Council has published an information sheet which can be viewed here (and can then be downloaded, or printed for future reference).
The full Animal Management Act (Cats and Dogs) 2009 can be found here.
Having pets is a basic right for Mount Isa residents and one of the great joys of our community, but everyone who owns an animal must be aware of the responsibility it brings as well as the community’s expectations about responsible pet management.
Owning a pet is great fun, but it does come with responsibility. Much of being a responsible pet owner is understanding your pet’s needs and being aware of your responsibilities to the community. Dog owners should do a few simple things to keep their pets out of trouble and their neighbours happy:
- Make sure your dog is properly fenced in at home
- Use a leash when you are out
- Train them not to bark excessively
- Stop them from roaming or being aggressive
- Pick up any litter left by them in public
- Make sure they are registered and identified so they can be rescued
As an animal owner, it is your responsibility to provide for your animal's general welfare, as a matter of priority.
You also have a responsibility to the community in which you live. It does take some time and commitment on your part to ensure everyone's interests are respected. However, if you follow these general common sense rules, the rewards are there for everyone- you, your dog and your neighbours.
Check with our Customer Service team on (07) 4747 3200 to find out more about your responsibilities and rights as a dog owner in your area.
In addition to providing information, your local Council also provides animal control services, handles complaints about animals, picks up stray dogs, and handles pet registrations.
Owning a pet is both a basic right in our community and a serious responsibility, so if you intend owning a dog in Mount Isa, you have to take responsibility for confining it to your property.
Adequately sized fences and gates protect your dog from the dangers of roaming, stop it from causing a nuisance in your neighbourhood, and ensure that your pet doesn’t hurt other animals or people.
Ensure that your fence is high enough your dog can’t jump over, low enough your dog can’t dig under, strong enough your dog can’t push it over and hole proof so that your dog can’t escape or attack people through it.
The majority of dog bites actually occur on the owner's property or on the property boundary line. Dogs regard their property as their domain and will naturally seek to protect it.
Legally, people have right of way access to your front door. This means you are responsible if your dog bites someone who has entered your property and is going to or coming from the front door. Meters for utility services such as gas or electricity must also be positioned to allow the reader safe access.
With this in mind, don't leave the gate open while you are washing the car or working in the garden. It is an offence if your dog is not confined to the yard and leaves the property. You are also liable if your dog attacks a person or another dog, damages property or causes a traffic accident outside your property.
The solution is to ensure that your gate is closed so that your dog is confined and cannot wander from the property.
Wandering dogs can not only become lost or stolen, but at worst can be severely injured or killed by motor vehicles. They also represent a hazard for pedestrians and bike riders.
A well-exercised dog makes a happy and contented pet, so responsible pet owners need to make time to regularly exercise their animals. While Council provides an “off leash” area, dogs must be leashed at all times in other public places to help you control them and to increase the safety of other animals and people. The "off leash" park is located at Edna Medly Park, on Sunset Drive.
Dog owners should still carry a leash at all times, and ensure the dog remains in sight even in off leash areas.
Dogs must be leashed at all times in public places to help you control them and to increase the safety of other animals and people.
For more information, please call the Council on (07) 4747 3200.
All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing people’s quality of life and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Barking dogs are the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with.
Ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem, and understanding what makes your dog bark is the first step towards solving this problem, both for the dog involved and your neighbours. Talk to Council, your vet or pet shop for advice.
There are a few urban myths which do regularly hurt people in our community – “that gun’s never loaded”, “the horse won’t kick” and “my dog wouldn’t bite anyone!”
All dog owners hope their pet won’t show aggression towards other animals or people, but it can and does happen for many reasons.
It is often a sign of irresponsible ownership and always against the law! Remember, pet owners are always responsible and legally liable for the actions of their animals.
When exercising your pet in public, please useplastic litter bags so you can pick up after your pet.
Remember, you are legally required to clean up after your pet.
What do you get for your registration?
We provide a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, service including :
- Investigation of complaints
- Impoundment and care of wandering dogs and cats
- An education program aimed at the general public
- Provision of an off-leash parks
Registration and identification of pets and other animals in u rban areas is important for the well being of the animals themselves, owner’s peace of mind, and to allow council to plan for future community needs.
Unaccompanied animals roaming the streets are at risk and all residents have a right and responsibility to have them rescued and either taken to a refuge or returned to their owners.
In Mount Isa, all dogs and cats must be registered each year and carry an identification tag. Most other types of pets do not require registration, but it’s always a good idea to check with your pet shop, vet or council.
Dog registration is an important investment in your pet, providing safety and security as well as assisting council to contact you in case your pet is found, injured or involved in an incident.
All dogs and cats over three (3) months of age and in the defined town area must be registered. Dogs under six (6) months of age can be registered at a reduced fee of $12 (the cost of the tag).
Under regulations, all owners of restricted breeds of declared dangerous dogs are required to hold a permit for each restricted dog they own.
For more information please contact Council on 4747 3200.
Regulated Dogs are dogs that have been declared:
- dangerous
- menacing
- restricted
Restricted Breeds are classified as (as outlined in Chapter 17A of the Local Government Act 1993):
- PitBull
- Fila brasilerio
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
Dogs that attack people or other animals are liable to be declared as 'Dangerous Dogs' by Councils Local Laws Officers. Declared Dangerous Dogs in the city of Mount Isa are allowed to be kept, but under strict guidelines (as per Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008).
There are a number of restrictions and requirements imposed upon owners of Restricted Breeds or Declared Dangerous Dogs, including:
- The owner cannot sell the animal
- The animal must be desexed
- The animal must be muzzled in public
- The animal must be kept under effective control at all times by a person physically able to control it (ie Children are not permitted to 'walk the dog' in public.)
- The animal must be kept on a leash at all times when in public, or tethered to a fixed object and continually supervised by the keeper.
- The animals are prohibited from using 'Off Leash' areas unless they remain on a leash.
- The animal must wear its identification tag at all times.
- The animal must be maintained within an appropriate enclosure at the residence to which the permit applies.
- A public notice must be visible at the entrance to the residence where the dog resides.
The dog registration fees for the 2011/2012 year are as follows:-
| | Full Fee | Discount (applicable during month of July for dogs only) |
Dogs Mount Isa
| | |
Desexed
| $35.00 | $17.50 |
Desexed w/microchip
| $25.00 | $12.50 |
Entire Male/Female
| $110.00
| $55.00 |
Entire Male/Female w/microchip
| $90.00
| $45.00 |
| | | |
| Dogs Camooweal | | |
Desexed – with or without microchip
| $24.00 | $12.00 |
Entire Male or Female with or without microchip
| $70.00 | $35.00 |
| | | |
| Regulated Dogs (Mount Isa and Camooweal) |
|
Declared Dangerous or Menacing
| $250.00 | N/A |
Restricted Dog Breeds
| $250.00 | N/A |
| | | |
| Cats (Mount Isa and Camooweal) | | |
Lifetime Registration – Microchip
| $100.00 | N/A |
| Entire Cat Yearly (Tag) Registration | $35.00
| N/A |
Desexed Cat Yearly (Tag) Registration
| $15.00
| N/A |
Previous Registrations
For new residents with dog/s currently registered with another Council in Queensland, you may be eligible to transfer your registration to Mount Isa City Council. For further information please contact Customer Service on 4747 3200.
Registration Tags
Dogs must wear a collar and their registration tag at all times. This allows Council to contact the owner should the dog be found straying.
Number of Dogs
The number of dogs permitted to be kept on any one (1) property within the defined town area is two (2). If you wish to have more than two (2) dogs, you will need to apply for a permit from Council.
Aged Pensioners are entitled to free registration of one (1) spayed or castrated animal. Disabled persons are entitled to free registration of one (1) guide / assistance dog as per register of cost recovery fees 2011-12.
Your dog is an important part of a family unit and should be cared for as responsibly as your care for a family member. Do the right thing to keep them safe, exercised and happy. You will be responsible for the care of this pet for the duration of its life and are responsible for everything your pet does. It is a full time responsibility that needs to be carefully considered.
Council seeks to help people resolve animal management issues without formal action, but has a duty to maintain a safe environment for all in the community and to ensure that animal ownership does not create health or safety problems. Local Law 6 has provisions to help Council manage animals in the community.
Caring for your pet’s welfare is a full time commitment and there are many factors that need to be considered before acquiring a pet.
Selecting the right pet for your lifestyle is an important place to start. Choose a breed that matches your lifestyle and your environment (house, yard, flat). Make sure that you can devote the necessary time to training, exercising and socialising your pet.
It is also important to determine whether you can afford the veterinary check-ups, vaccinations and food that your pet will require during its lifetime. Ask Council or your local vet for advice if you are not sure.
People in the community have a right to live without interference from other people’s pets.
Address: 21 Richardson Road (next to Steelcon)
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 10am
Telephone: 4747 3200 or (0428 981 724 after hours)
If your animal goes missing or you find an animal, please call the pound on 4747 3390 between 9am - 10am Monday to Friday, or call the Local Laws Officers on 4747 3200 during business hours. All animals entering the Pound are scanned for a microchip when the pound is open for business.
- The opening hours for release and sale of animals is 9am to 10am Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. Other weekday times by appointment only.
- The pound is closed on all weekends and public holidays except for the impounding of stray animals.
- There are two (2) holding pens at the front of the complex for placing stray dogs in. The cat pen is located behind these pens.
- When surrendering an animal, please fill out the Pound form provided, with the details of where the animal came from.
- To make an appointment to have your animal released contact Animal Control on 4747 3200.
- To ensure surrendered animals can be identified, it is important your animal is wearing a collar and tag.
- All impounded animals are scanned for a microchip. If your animal is microchipped please provide the details to Mount Isa City Council Customer Service so it can be recorded with your registration details.
For sale at the Pound:
As a result of community feedback in the recent Responsible Pet Owner's Survey, the prices of animals at the pound have changed. All puppies and dogs for sale are now only $120, inclusive of registration and microchipping.
All kittens and cats for sale are now only $60, also inclusive of registration and microchipping.
Horse Pound
Impounded horses are yarded at the Mount Isa City Council Horse Pound situated along Jessop Drive on the road to the dump.
- Horses and Cattle are kept for seven (7) days.
- After the seven (7) day period has expired the animal/animals will be advertised for sale in the local newspaper.
Camooweal
| Impoundment in Camooweal | $60.00 (plus registration fees if required) |
Mount Isa - Cats
First Day (or Part Thereof) Sustenance Fee (Per Day or Part Thereof Surrender Fee | Infringement only: $200.00 per offence $20.00 Cat: $35.00, Litter: $50.00 |
Mount Isa - Dogs
First Offence (Registration Period) Second Offence (and Thereafter) Sustenance Fee (Per Day or Part Thereof) Surrender Fee Opening Pound Out Of Hours (6pm to 7am Pick Up Injured Dog and Take To Vet | Infringement only: PIN $200.00 per offence $325.00 + Infringement PIN: $200 per offence $27.00 Dog: $35.00, Litter: $50.00 $114.50 $58.00 |
The Mount Isa City Council can collect any animal that is no longer wanted, or if the owner feels is getting too old and no longer want the animal to suffer.
You can call Customer Service at 4747 3200 to arrange collection of the animal. A surrender fee will be charged (please see fee schedule above).
If you have changed your address since registering your dog, it is most important that you notify Council of your new address so that we can locate the dogs address if they are picked up or injured.
Please note:
Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008
Chapter 3: Registration
Part 3: Amendment of Registration
554(3): The owner of a cat or dog must within 7 days, give the relevant local government notice of changed information. Maximum Penalty: 5 Penalty Points
