Responsible Pet Ownership

Animals can be a great addition to a family, but there are certain responsibilities that come with ownership. The Weipa Town Authority's Local Laws and the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (The Act) promote responsible pet ownership.

We take the responsibility for the management of animals under these Acts very seriously, in the interest of safety for the community and visitors.

Being a responsible dog owner

To be a responsible pet owner, you are required to comply with the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Weipa’s Local Laws. You can do this by:

  • Registering your animal/s at twelve (12) weeks of age.
  • Micro-chipping your animal/s before 12 weeks of age. You are not permitted to sell or give away any cat or dog, born after July 2008, unless it’s been micro-chipped.
  • You are required to prevent all animal related nuisance.
  • Always walk your animal/s on a lead.
  • Keep your animals under effective control at all times (you cannot tether your animal and leave it unattended).
  • Pick up after your animal/s in both public spaces and your property.
  • Provide adequate fencing to house the prescribed animal/s to your land specifically:
    1. Construct an enclosure to prevent your animal/s escaping under, over or through that enclosure.
    2. Is built of material so that the animal is unable to push, knock or pull the enclosure over to escape.
    3. Consideration should be given to the size, breed and temperament of your animal/s when building an enclosure.

If you are found to be in breach of the Act or Weipa’s Local Laws, you may be issued a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN).

For printable information on Barking Dogs, please see the Fact Sheet on Barking Dogs(PDF, 2MB)

 

Discounted desexing program

Each year, WTA provides residents with the opportunity to access a discounted desexing program for their animals. There are numerous benefits of desexing, which include:

  • Significantly reduced registration fee
  • Decreased aggression/ roaming
  • Reducing testicular and mammary tumours
  • Reducing unwanted litters

The number of vouchers available each year is limited, and animals must be registered with WTA to be eligible.

For printable information on desexing, please see the Fact Sheet on Animal Desexing(PDF, 1MB)

 

Animal and Pet Management - Forms

 

 

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