Pets & Animals

Dog Registration

It is simple to register your dog by either downloading the Dog Registration Form or by calling into the Council office, complete the registration form and pay the fee to receive your dog tag.

Please remember to bring along proof that your dog has been de-sexed. You will also need to bring along a signed statutory declaration form if you are registering a working dog. This can be found on the reverse side of the Dog Registration Form.

All dogs over the age of six months must be registered. The benefit of Dog Registration is that it assists Council in reuniting you with your dog if it becomes lost or is impounded.

All current registered dog owners will receive an application form to renew registration in the mail.

  Download a dog registration form here

If the unfortunate situation arises and your pet dies, please notify the Council within 14 days of the dog’s death. This also applies if your dog is lost, or permanently removed from your premises. Once notified, the Council will cancel your dog’s registration.

Kennel Licences

If you keep more than two dogs on your property you will need to have a License to keep several dogs.
To apply for a kennel licence, you will need to complete the Kennel Licence Application paperwork and submit it to the Council’s General Manager.

You are then required to provide payment for Kennel License fees.

Finally, you may submit the Notice of Intention to Apply for a Kennel Licence form to the King Island Courier newspaper, advertised in the Public Notices Section. A copy of the advertisement is to be submitted to Council with the application once it has been published.

Further information on applying for a Kennel Licence Application can be found here.

Please see below fees associated with registering your dog:

Fees

All Dogs MUST be microchipped unless exempt under Section 15A(2) of the Dog Control Act 2000

Renewal registration fee – Due by August 8 2022

Registration forms need to be filled in and signed before a tag is allocated.

All fees and charges are inclusive of GST where applicable

Responsible Dog Ownership

Dogs that are well managed cause few problems and rarely come to the attention of the Council. Unfortunately, it is when dogs are acquired with little forethought, for the wrong reasons or when they are left unsupervised, problems may occur.

Owning a dog comes with responsibilities, not only from a duty of care perspective, but also under the Dog Management Plan 2019.

The purpose of this plan is to achieve a balance between meeting the needs of dog owners and the needs and expectations of others in the community, working towards improved animal management on King Island.

The Dog Management Plan 2019 provides guidelines for dog owners, and prospective owners that will assist in producing healthy and happy dogs and provide a harmonious community for all residents.

Dogs are an important part of society and many value their companionship. As with any animal there are standards of care and welfare that need to be observed. The views and concerns of neighbours and other members of the community need to be considered.

Responsible dog ownership requires accepting full responsibility for dogs, in terms of their needs and the standards for dog management that are expected by the community.

Pre-Purchase Guidelines

Dogs are valuable companion animals that require a commitment to their welfare over their entire lifespan. In order to fully understand the obligation, research should be undertaken prior to making the final purchase decision.
Some issues that need to be considered before purchasing a dog are:

• the breed of the dog, and its suitability to the home environment e.g. the number and age of family members, compatibility with other pets, size of the yard, adequacy of fencing, proximity of neighbours, housing of dog
• vaccinations and ongoing veterinary requirements
• dietary requirements
• arrangements if going on holidays – proximity and cost of kennels
• familiarisation with the community environment e.g. proximity and location of dog exercise areas, areas in which dogs are prohibited, location of veterinary clinics
• initial and continuing costs e.g. purchase, vaccination, microchipping, de-sexing, veterinary costs, registration costs, dietary requirements, obedience classes, grooming
• regulations governing dog management – Dog Control Act 2000, Dog Management Plan 2018, Animal Welfare (Dogs) Regulations 2016.

Post-Purchase Guidelines

Having made the decision to purchase a companion animal, the following actions are recommended during the first six months to ensure a healthy and happy dog:

• socialisation and education of your dog, providing access and exposure to a variety of experiences
• appropriate vaccination and veterinary checks
• access to training and opportunities for playing
• microchipping – new mandatory reporting of chip numbers to Council
• identification for the dog prior to registration
• de-sexing
• appropriate diet
• registration by six months of age

The previous actions are important in the first six months, but an ongoing commitment in the following areas are important to ensure the happiness and safety of your dog:

• health and welfare aspects
• ongoing obedience training
• opportunities for exercise and play
• adherence to regulatory requirements

Consideration of Others

As a member of the broader community, there are obligations for us all in considering the impact of our actions on others. For the dog owner this includes taking action to:

• ensure your dog does not bark excessively
• ensure your dog does not wander off your property boundary
• clean up after your pet
• keep no more than two dogs on your property without a kennel licence
• ensuring your dog is under effective control at all times
• not allowing your dog to jump at, or lick people. This playful nature might not be accepted by all persons

Lost Dogs

If your dog is lost, it may have been collected by the Ranger and transported to the pound. Owners should make every effort to locate missing dogs by contacting the Council.

Restricted Breeds & Dangerous Dogs

The Government of Tasmania has introduced regulations relating to restricted dog breeds. The keeping of these dogs is not prohibited, however special requirements do apply.

Under the legislation, a ‘restricted breed dog’ is defined as a breed whose importation into Australia is prohibited under the Commonwealth Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. At present this includes either pure or cross breeds of the following dogs:

• Dago Argentina (Argentinian Fighting Dog)
• Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Fighting Dog)
• Japanese Tosa
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Pit Bull Terrier breeds and
• Perro de Presa Canario

A dog may also be declared dangerous if:

• the dog has caused serious injury to a person or another animal; or
• there is reasonable cause to believe that the dog is likely to cause serious injury to a person or another animal

Under the Dog Control Act 2000, owners of restricted breeds and dangerous dogs are required to follow special guidelines. These include the declaration of a dangerous dog, effective dog control, microchipping and de-sexing of the dog and the notification to Council if a dangerous dog goes missing, dies or is transferred ownership.

More information regarding these guidelines and the keeping of these dogs can be found in the Dog Management Policy & Plan 2019, or by contacting the Ranger.

Responsible Cat Ownership

Council is not directly involved in the management of cats, but we do encourage and support responsible cat ownership.

Cat owners are not bound by law to confine a cat. However, Council strongly recommends for the benefit of your cat, your neighbours and local wildlife that you keep your cat confined to your house and yard.

The management of Cats in Tasmania is guided by the controls set out in the Cat Management Act 2009. The Cat Management Act 2009 is administered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE). A good guide to cat management in Tasmania, and information for cat owners and the general community can be found here https://nre.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/responsible-cat-ownership.

Cat Owner Responsibilities

For the wellbeing of your cat and for the benefit of the community and native wildlife a responsible cat owner should ensure the following:

• That you choose a cat appropriate to your circumstances and the environment within which you live
• That your cat is under effective control and supervision at all times, which includes preventing the cat from roaming outside your property and trespassing on private or public land reserves or roadways to protect resident’s amenity, other animals and to avoid vehicle accidents
• That you take reasonable steps to ensure your cat is under effective control and supervision with particular emphasis on restricting the cat from National Parks and Reserved Land
• That your cat does not cause nuisance to wildlife, domestic animals or people’s total amenity
• That you keep only de-sexed cats unless specifically kept for breeding or neutering of the animal would be detrimental to its health; in which case the animal should always be confined to the owner’s property to assist with controlling unwanted populations of stray and feral cats
• You provide training and other education for your cat if practical to assist with avoiding nuisance and to maintain control
• You provide adequate veterinary attention to each case as required.

Birds of King Island

Home to over 200 species of birds, King Island acts as a biological stepping-stone between Tasmania and mainland Australia. For birds migrating North and South, the Island is a vital stopover to rest and refuel. King Island is home to six endemic subspecies, as well as 10 endemic Tasmanian species.

Launched in April, 2017, the Wings on King Project invites bird enthusiasts to visit King Island along with local volunteers to help gather data from established survey sites.

Using Birds as Indicators of the health of the whole Island, data is used to identify conservation areas of most importance and undertake actions to ensure a sustainable future for the Island, its people and its wildlife.