Responsible dog & cat ownership
Owning a dog or cat can give your family years of fun, so to ensure your pet lives a healthy life, it must be well looked after.
Dog off-leash areas
Areas where dogs are not required to be on a leash are called 'Dog off-leash areas'.
Council has designated a number of these dog off-leash areas, under section 11 of Council's Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011. These areas are contained in Council’s Register for Dog Off-Leash Areas.
Dogs (except declared dangerous dogs or specified dogs) may be allowed to run off lead in dog off-leash areas provided they are accompanied by a competent person able to control the dog and kept within close proximity of this person.
If you take your dog to an a dog off-leash area, you must remove and properly dispose of your dog's faeces. You must remove your dog from the off-leash area if it creates a nuisance, and the person in control of the dog must obey any direction of an authorised Council officer regarding the dog.
Dog prohibited areas
There are a number of public places where animals - including dogs - are prohibited.
Council has specified these public places under section 10 of Council's Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 and Council's Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011. These areas are contained in Council’s Register for Prohibition of Animals in Public Places.
Barking dogs
Barking is one of the most common problems reported to Council. It's also one of the most difficult problems to resolve effectively without cooperation and compliance from all parties involved.
You must not keep an animal that causes a nuisance or adversely affects another person’s health.
Under Schedule 4 of Council's Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011, a noise nuisance from an animal is one that occurs persistently or continues to such a degree that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or social well-being of a reasonable person.
What may be considered a nuisance to one person, will not be an issue for another. This means it is very difficult to determine whether something that is annoying to you is in fact a nuisance under the Local Law.
Council could be considered to intervene when other avenues to remedy neighbourhood disputes have been utilised. Note that Council can only take enforcement action when there is sufficient evidence for an authorised person to form the opinion that it is a nuisance in terms of the Local Law.
Backyard breeding laws
You must not keep certain animals for breeding (including cats and dogs) without Council approval.
Approval is required under section 6 of Council's Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 (see also Schedule 3 – Requirement for approval to keep animal).
Keeping of cats
You must have a permit if you wish to keep more than two cats on your allotment or premises. Permit application forms are available from Council offices or in Related Documents at right.
Under Cairns Regional Council Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011 and Cairns Regional Council Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2011, it is prohibited to keep cats on any allotment located in a Conservation Planning area.
Be a responsible cat owner and keep your cat securely in your home at night so that it cannot get into fights with other cats, get runover, or hunt wildlife. Also remember to desex and microchip your pet at an early age.
From December 2010, it is compulsory to register your cat with Council under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. Council offers free registration for cats which are desexed.