Information for Dog Owners
Responsible dog ownership depends wholly on public awareness of the proper care, keeping and control of pets. The decision to become a dog owner is one that should not be taken lightly. Deciding what breed of dog is equally important.
Choosing a dog
Three questions that should be considered before choosing a breed of dog are:
- Have I the time to properly care for and exercise the dog?
- Can I afford to feed and shelter the dog as well as paying the unexpected veterinary bills?
- Is my property suitable for keeping a dog?
Before you answer any of these, remember some of the large breeds need a daily walk of up to 1.5-2 kilometres to keep them healthy. Some breeds need extensive grooming to keep their coats clean and healthy. Small dogs may not need as much exercise, but some long-coated breeds need time spent on grooming their coats.
Various organisations are available to assist you in choosing the breed of dog for your family. Contact details are listed below:
Animal Welfare League
1-19 Cormack Road, Wingfield
Ph: 8348 1300
You may also want to contact your local vet for advice.
Going Away on Holidays?
Your dog should wear its collar and disc at all times. However, during the period when you are away this may not be enough identification. If you leave you dog at home, your phone number is of no use as no-one will be there. Plastic key tags with the paper insert give you plenty of space to put contact numbers, the number of your vet if the dog gets injured, and other contact information. Make sure that whoever has the care and control of your dog knows how to contact the Council if the dog goes missing.
Civil Liability
If your dog causes any injury to any animal, bird or human, any damage to property or creates a nuisance to a person, you can be sued. The law allows any person to sue the owner or the person liable for the control of any dog which causes injury, damage or nuisance to their person or property. A successful court action could result in the owner or the person responsible for the control of the dog being liable to pay a considerable sum of money. It is essential that every dog owner ensures they have some kind of public liability insurance policy to cover any claims which may be made against them arising from their dog's actions.