Dog owner responsibility urged following news reports
Date published: 19 November 2024
Townsville City Council is reminding residents of the importance of responsible pet ownership following recent news reports detailing dog attack statistics across the state.
The report published in the Townsville Bulletin last week showed 19 dog attacks happened every day across Queensland.
Councillor Brodie Phillips said the statistic just wasn’t good enough.
“These figures are absolutely alarming. Each number added to the tally is a time that a dog has hurt or injured another animal or human, which simply isn’t good enough,” Cr Phillips said.
“Every dog owner has a responsibility to themselves, their pet and the community to be a responsible pet owner to reduce the risk of dog attacks.
“Responsible pet owners always make sure their pet is secure on their property with appropriate fencing, and that their dog is always under control on a leash when being walked in public.
“Pets are an important part of a family and the last thing any pet owner would want is for their pet to hurt a postie, a family taking a walk or a child riding their bike home from school, which is why it’s so important to take responsible pet ownership seriously.
“If you own a dog and it’s found to not be under effective control, you could be penalised by Council under the stronger state laws introduced, through a fine, or impounding the dog.
“These measures are completely preventable through making sure your pet is safely secured at home, leashed when in public and controlled to protect your community and your dog.”
Dog attacks, aggressive animals and roaming animals should be immediately reported to Council by phoning 13 48 10.
For more information on responsible pet ownership, visit the Be a Responsible Pet Owner page.
