Everything Dogs
All dogs must be registered by 3 months of age or within two weeks of ownership and re-registered (renewed) each financial year. A renewal notice will be sent to the registered dog owner in July via their nominated method (email, sms or post) and is payable by 31 August each year. When you are renewing your dog’s registration it is a timely reminder to make sure all your contact and dog details are up to date.
To register, renew or to update yours or your dog's details visit Dogs and Cats Online.
If you are unsure of the process the following short video is very easy to understand and shows you how easily it is to renew your dog online:
How to register your dog online [YouTube]
What if I don’t have access to a computer to register or renew my dog's registration?
Dog owners that do not have access to a computer can come into the Council Administration Office, Level One, Civic Centre, 60 Tasman Terrace, Port Lincoln and staff will be able to assist in registering, renewing and updating your dogs’ information.
Or you can complete and lodge the New Owner Application Form 1-71-T5 [PDF] at the Council Office with the prescribed registration fee.
Registration discs
Each Dog will be issued with a permanent registration number when first registered on Dogs and Cats Online. A grey registration disc, displaying the permanent registration number, will be posted out to you 15 days following payment. This number will remain with the dog for life, even if you or your dog moves to another Council area or there is a transfer of ownership.
Council will no longer be issuing annual discs. If your dog’s registration disc has been lost or damaged, or you do not wish to use the supplied plastic disc, you can purchase your own metal disc, badge or tag and have it engraved with your dog’s registration number. It is also recommended to include your contact name and number on the disc. If you lose your grey registration disc you can order a replacement disc through Dogs and Cats Online for a fee.
Registration fees and concessions
Each year Council set the dog registration fees which are outlined in Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule.
Note: Concession card holders are required to supply a valid concession card to be eligible to receive a discount on all dog and cat registrations.
Concession cards accepted:
- Health benefits or concession card issued by the Commonwealth
- Pension concession card issued by the Commonwealth
- Concession card issued by Family and Youth Services
- Totally and permanently incapacitated Disability Pensioner
- British Commonwealth Service Pensioner in receipt of a pension form and assessed as eligible by the Commonwealth Department of Veteran Affairs
- Commonwealth Unemployment or Sickness Benefits or State financial assistance
Refunds
Where a dog is permanently lost or has passed away, a refund may be considered by completing and submitting this form. There are certain conditions that apply, please make sure you read the form and only submit it if you're eligible for a refund.
Council has a By-law for dogs in the Port Lincoln area that limits the number of dogs that can be kept on any premises to control and manage dogs in the Council area – refer to our Dogs By-law 2018 [PDF].
If you wish to have more than two dogs at the same address you must complete and submit this form to Council for approval. Please note a permit application fee will apply as set out in Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule and payment will be required before a permit approval will be issued.
The following points must be adhered to before approval can be given:
- All dogs must be registered, microchipped and desexed (some exemptions apply) as required under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, prior to a permit being issued.
- The premises must be suitable for housing the dogs. Consideration must be given to the size of the yard and there must be adequate fencing to keep the dogs contained.
- All applications may be subject to an assessment process including history of dog ownership and one of Council’s Officers may consult with your immediate neighbours.
- The property where the dogs are to be housed will be subject to an inspection by Council Authorised Officer by appointment.
- Permit fee must be paid prior to permit application being assessed.
Upon approval a permit will be issued which will be applicable for the life of the dogs or until you change address. If you change address please let Council know by:
Email: plcc@plcc.sa.gov.au
Post to:
City of Port Lincoln
PO Box 1787
PORT LINCOLN SA 5606
In person:
Level One, Civic Centre, 60 Tasman Terrace
PORT LINCOLN SA 5606
Microchipping
In South Australia all dogs (and cats) must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or at the point of sale (whichever occurs first) or within 28 days of ownership with the details entered onto Dogs and Cats Online.
Microchipped dogs carry a permanent identification and therefore if they go missing, they can be reunited with their families a lot sooner.
More information about microchipping your dog can be found here.
Desexing
Research indicates that’s desexing reduces territorial and aggressive behaviour, reduces the risk of some cancers and stops unwanted litters.
In South Australia. If you are an owner of a dog born after the 1 July 2018 you must have your dog desexed by a registered veterinary surgeon:
- Before it is 6 months of age; or
- Within 28 days after you take ownership of the dog; or
- If you as the owner of the dog is granted an extension of time, before the day specified in the exemption.
- Veterinarians may exempt the requirement to desex your dog if the procedure poses an undue risk to the health of the dog or it will adversely affect the dogs growth, development or wellbeing.
- Dogs born prior to 1 July 2018
- Dogs owned by a registered breeder through Dogs and Cats Online
- Dogs defined as a “working livestock” as per the act
- Dogs owned by a member of Dogs SA
- Greyhounds that are currently registered as racing greyhounds with Greyhound Racing SA (retired greyhounds are not exempt)
Other dog desexing exemptions:
More information about the benefits of desexing your dog can be found here.
Lost a Dog?
If you have found that your dog is missing from its yard or from where he/she was being left, we recommend that you take a drive around the neighbourhood and see if you can locate your dog.
If however, you are unable to find your dog, please contact the Council office on 8621 2300 and leave a detailed description of your dog and a Council Officer will keep an eye out and if found will be in contact with you.
If your dog has no ID of any kind (no collar/microchip/tag) and our Council Officers are unable to determine who the owner of the dog is, these dogs will be listed on the Lost pets of South Australia facebook page.
If your dog is showing on the Lost pets of South Australia Facebook page you need to contact the Council office with your ownership and return enquiries.
We also recommend you contact:
- the RSPCA, in case someone has dropped your dog there;
- the Local Veterinary Clinic, in case it has been in an accident; or
- check on social media,
- or publish a post to see if a member of the community is holding it.
It is important that if you have lost your dog to contact Council as soon as possible as your dog may already be waiting to be reunited, or our Council Officers may know where it is being held.
Be careful with social media users claiming they have your dog.
To make sure that your dog can be reunited as soon as possible, you should ensure that your dog is registered each year, always wears a collar and registration tag, and is microchipped with your current details recorded on DogandCatsOnline.
Click here for information on Impounded Dogs
Found a Dog?
If you find a dog wandering at large, taking your safety into account, try and secure the dog and call the Council Office on 8621 2300. A Council Officer who is professionally trained will come around to collect the dog.
Please note: Council Officers will only collect dogs during daylight hours, and when the dog has been contained or held by the person calling about the dog.
Council does discourage holding or keeping a dog that has been found, as there is less chance the dog is promptly reunited with its owners. It is important that members of the public who have found a dog to contact Council as soon as possible, so that the dog can be reunited with its owner.
Dogs in Public Places
All dog owners are legally responsible for their pet’s behaviour both at home and in the broader community.
Please ensure when walking your dog on the footpath or a road, that it is always restrained using a leash no more than 2m in length. When exercising your dog in a designated "off leash” reserve, it is a requirement your dog is under effective control.
Your dog must not enter a school, kindergarten, childcare centre or shop without appropriate permission. Expiations may apply.
You must also ensure your dog does not attack, chase or harass other people, dogs or animals including birds and native wildlife.
Greyhounds must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public places, including off-leash areas like dog parks and beaches. You can apply for a muzzling exemption from the Dog and Cat Management Board. Even if exempted from wearing a muzzle your greyhound must still be kept on a leash at all times in public places.
You must also clean up after your dog. Dog droppings pose a health risk to the community and other dogs. By law, you must immediately clean up after your dog in public places. Failure to do so can incur an expiation (fine).
Port Lincoln has a By-Law in place for some on leash and prohibited area. Please view the map here.
What is effective control of your dog?
Effective control of a dog that is “Off Leash” means that:
- The owner/person responsible for the dog can voice control their dog in a manner that ensures the dog will obey.
- The dog needs to remain in close proximity and in sight of the owner/person responsible, at all times.
- The dog owner pays active attention to what their dog is doing and is able to respond immediately
- When the dog is called once the dog should immediately respond and return to its owner/person responsible.
- The owner/person responsible should be able to display vocal control over the dog with verbal commands only (without physically holding the dog).
Dogs on leash must also be kept under effective control in all public places and where legislation or By-laws require a dog to be on a physical restraint - a dog is still required to be under the effective control of a person.
In these situations, “Exercising Effective Control” is by means of voice command and physical control. The physical control of the dog must be by means of a chain, cord or leash that is no longer than 2m in length”. In these situations, "Exercising Effective Control" requires the person restraining the dog to be physically able to control the behaviour of the dog.
If you are breeder and seller of dogs you must be registered with the Dog and Cat Management Board via Dogs and Cats Online if not a registered breeder with Dogs SA.
- Breeders and sellers must also adhere to the Standards for breeding.
- All dogs for sale must be microchipped.
- All dogs must also be desexed by six months of age.
If you are a breeder and seller, any advertisement you place for the sale of a dog must include your name and telephone number, breeder name and telephone number and the breeder’s registration number if they were registered. Sellers must provide the new owner (buyer) with the information available on the Dog and Cat Board website - Buying and selling dogs and cats.
For more information on breeding, selling and buying dogs visit dogandcatboard.com.au.
On occasions dog attacks do occur within our community. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to ensure their dog is well contained in their own backyard or if out on a walk to be under effective control to ensure everyone is safe and able to enjoy their time out in nature.
It is an offence for a dog to attack, harass or chase a person, or an animal or bird owned by or in the charge of another person (whether or not actual injury is caused).
What should you do if a dog attack occurs?
If you or your dog/animal or bird is attacked by a dog the first thing you should do is seek medical or veterinary treatment for yourself and or your dog/animal or bird as a priority.
When you and your dog/animal or bird is out of danger, you should as soon as possible after the incident report the dog attack to Council by phoning one of our Authorised Officers on 8621 2300.
Time is critical to report the incident. This is especially important if the offending dog is wandering at large and still poses a risk to the public or other animals.
What information do I need to report an attack?
To help Council’s Authorised Officers, you should try and gather as much information as you can:
- The date, time and exact location of the attack. If you are not sure, use your GPS equipped smart phone to check on a map;
- A description of the offending dog – registration disc, name tag, breed, colour, sex, any markings, collar size and collar;
- A description of the owner – name, address, contact phone number, male or female, age, hair colour, clothing;
- If a car was involved and the offender drove away with the dog – car registration number, make, model and colour;
- A description and photographs of any injuries and location on your body or your dog/animal or birds’ body; and
- You should keep copies of any medical certificates, vet or doctor bills as evidence.
What happens after I report a dog attack?
Council’s Authorised Officers may take a statement or affidavit from you and may take photographs of any injuries to yourself, or your dog/animal or bird.
The owner of the dog which attacked will be contacted to get their side of the incident and Council’s Authorised Officers may seek any witness statements and other evidence applicable to the investigation.
Authorised Officers will issue legal notices as required and inform all parties of the outcome.
Depending on the severity of the attack, Council can:
- Issue a warning to the dog owner
- Impose an on the spot fine
- In more serious cases take direct court action
- Impose a control order for Nuisance, Dangerous Dog, Menacing Dog, or a Destruction Order.
The maximum penalty for a dog attack is $10,000.
For information about dog attacks visit here.
For a blank Statutory Declaration click here.
Dogs bark for number of reasons. They can bark because of separation anxiety, boredom, changes to lifestyle, health problems, noise from neighbours and construction work in the neighbourhood.
If you are a neighbour experiencing problems with a barking dog, there are ways to resolve issues
Contact the Owner
Often, dog owners are unaware that their dog is barking. A simple visit to your neighbour to inform them of the situation can be an easy fix. Face-to-face visits are most effective. But if you are uncomfortable, you can leave a polite note in your neighbour's letter box or complete this form and place in their letterbox.
Involve the Council
If you don't reach a resolution, we can assist in two steps.
First, we'll contact the dog owner and highlight the complaint received. We will work with the dog owner to ensure the dog's physical and mental welfare needs are being met.
Our Community Safety Officers make suggestions for strategies that can reduce barking. Please allow time for the dog owner to make changes to their backyard, house or lifestyle.
If the barking persists after several weeks, please contact the Council again. We'll undertake a more formal investigation.
We'll send you an information kit with a diary to record details of the barking behaviour for 14 days. When this is complete, return it to Council for investigation.
If the problem persists, and proof that excessive nuisance barking is found, an order may be served on the owner. This legally requires them to take all reasonable steps to reduce the noise.
For more information about barking dogs visit here or the Dog and Cat Management Board has this factsheet on Barking Dogs [PDF] that may be useful.
Related information
City of Port Lincoln Animal Management Plan [PDF]
City of Port Lincoln Dogs By-law No.5 of 2018 [PDF]
City of Port Lincoln By-Law No.5 Dog Areas Map
Canine Parvovirus Information Guide [PDF]
South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals
Key Contacts
RSPCA Cruelty Complaints: 1300 477 722
RSPCA Port Lincoln Shelter: 8682 3016
Need more information
If you have any questions or concerns regarding dogs, please contact:
City of Port Lincoln
Environment & Community Safety Team
9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 8621 2300
Email: plcc@plcc.sa.gov.au