Responsible Dog Ownership
Your responsibilities as a dog owner.
Gosford City Council recognises that pet ownership is an important part of our social structure. There are a number of things you must do as a dog owner under the Companion Animal Act 1998, for the benefit of the wider community.
Microchip your dog - All dogs must be microchipped. Microchipping is performed by veterinarians. The microchip contains a unique identification number that allows Council to identify the pet's owner through a central registry.
Get your dog registered - All dogs must be registered for life. Registration only needs to be done once and ensures that your pet can be returned to you if it is found wandering.
You can register your dog at any of our Customer Service Centres. You will need to provide a certificate of microchipping or a letter from your vet, and if applicable proof of desexing from your vet, to register your dog.
The registration fees are:
- $40 - for a desexed animal
- $150 - for an animal that is not desexed
- $15 - desexed animal owned by an eligible pensioner
- $40 - an animal that is not desexed and is kept by a registered breeder
Make your dog wear a collar and tag - Your dog must wear a collar around it's neck with an identification tag, stating the name of the dog and the address or telephone number of the owner, at all times.
Keep your dog on a leash or secured in your yard - Your dog must be kept on a leash or secured in your yard at all times. An unrestrained and unsupervised dog can be a danger to other people and animals. The fine for dogs that attack, bite, harass, chase or rush at a person or animal is $550.
Dogs are allowed off leash in specified Off-leash Exercise Areas only.
Dogs are prohibited:
- within 10 metres of food preparation or eating areas
- in School or Childcare Grounds
- within 10 metres of Childrens Playground Equipment
- in Public bathing areas, unless otherwise signposted.
- from Kincumber Mountain, Rumbalara and Katandra Reserves
- from any National Parks
Pick up after your dog - When in public places you must pick up and appropriately dispose of your dogs' droppings. The penalty for not picking up dog faeces is $270.
Restricted or Dangerous Dogs - For details of requirements of ownership download the Restricted or Dangerous Dogs brochure (267kb, PDF).
Keeping your dog happy and healthy - Download the brochures on how to Care for your pet (275kb, PDF), Be kind to your pet (253kb, PDF) or Be safe around your pet (261kb, PDF). These brochures are part of the SPOT program for schools, coordinated by the NSW Department of Local Government (DLG).
For more details on responsible dog ownership or the SPOT program go to the DLG Companion Animal website.