THE message from Mitchell Shire Council to lax dog owners is succinct – enough is enough, no more attacks.
This comes as Council disappointingly reports another rise in dog attacks and wandering dogs over the last financial year, with growth continuing from 2023/24, as well as with tougher laws regarding dogs on leash.
According to the Mitchell Shire Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29, there were 89 reports of dog attacks directed to other animals or towards people in 2023/24. However, that number has now grown in the last two financial years.
In 2024/25, there were 130 reported dog attacks, while that number has now grown to 142 in 2025/26.
Across the last year, reports of wandering dogs have also increased.
There were 181 reports in 2024/25, while 195 were reported in 2025/26.
Council says they impounded 398 dogs during the past financial year.
Dog attacks are considered incidents where a dog rushes, chases, harasses, bites a person or animal and may cause injury.
Many dog attacks may also go unreported, and serious dog attacks could also be protected if earlier attacks, even if minor, were reported.
It comes as Council takes a zero-tolerance approach to irresponsible dog ownership. They have warned owners that failing to contain and control their dog has consequences.
Last year, Council enforced a new on-leash law requiring dogs to be on a leash in all public places from the moment an owner and dog leave its property, unless in a designated off-leash area or enclosed dog park.
The laws required dogs to be on-leash within 10 metres of playgrounds, not allowed inside fenced playgrounds, on-leash during markets, sports games and training sessions, and did not apply to working dogs moving livestock.
However, many residents also advise that attacks are happening on streets and close to homes, particularly on farms with acreages, which fall under the public space law with on-leash dogs. They say attacks could be avoided if dogs were constrained to their property.
Resident concerns include dogs that are roaming unchecked near properties that have gates open and without fencing or inadequate fencing. Some residents have reported that walking through streets are unsafe as a result, while livestock attacks have also been reported.
The Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29 said resident feedback played a part.
“During our community consultation relating to Mitchell Shire’s leashing laws, a high proportion of respondents raised concerns about off-leash, and unsupervised dogs rushing at other dogs or people. They told us about the resulting altercations that have resulted in injuries to either dogs or humans and have contributed to increasingly fearful behaviour in their own dogs,” it read.
“Some respondents told us that they no longer feel safe walking their pets in public places, especially those areas that see a lot of dogs exercised off leash, or in parts of townships where dogs at large are common.
“Owners of dogs need to exercise some common sense in managing their dogs and not put them into a situation where they become frustrated, threatened or overly aroused or excited. This includes supervising their dogs closely when in an off-leash area, or within the confines of a dog park.”
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Councillor John Dougall said the numbers were concerning.
“Dogs are an important part of many Mitchell Shire families, but owning one comes with a clear responsibility to protect other people, pets and animals in our community,” he said.
“The majority of owners do the right thing. However, the consequences can be devastating when a dog is allowed to wander or isn’t kept under effective control.
“No family should have to deal with a serious injury or the loss of a beloved pet because another owner failed to meet their responsibilities.”
The owner of an attacking dog is legally responsible for damage and injury caused, including vet bills, as pets are legally considered property. If an owner refuses to pay voluntarily, you can pursue damages through civil action or a Magistrates’ Court.
Council also has the power to seize a dog or declare it dangerous or menacing, and a court can order a dog be euthanised as well.
“Council will continue educating the community, but where owners put others at risk, we’ll take appropriate enforcement action,” Cr Dougall said.
“We’re asking every dog owner to check their fencing and gates, follow the on-leash requirements and make sure their registration details are current. These simple actions can prevent an attack and help keep our community safe.”
Residents speaking on the condition of anonymity said owners needed to be responsible for their pets after experiencing a dog attack recently.
“The owner of the dog that’s done the attack is both criminally and civilly responsible for the consequences,” they said.
“It’s not just the fine from the Council, is also possible criminal prosecution that the Council can push through, depending on the severity, but also the civil action to reimburse costs.
“Dog attacks are quite complicated.”
The attack was ‘traumatic’ for the owners.
“We experienced a terrifying dog attack while walking our two dogs down our street on their harnesses and leads,” the resident said.
“We could see the dog rushing towards us. We knew from its facial expression, speed and aggressive approach, that we were going to get attacked. You could see the attack coming, and that was terrifying.
“The dog attacked from the back, so we couldn’t pull the dog off our dogs, it pulled our dogs to the ground, who were defenceless.
“I also received wounds to my hand.
“A traumatic event for our dogs and us could have been prevented from happening if the owners had been responsible dog owners and make sure their dog could not escape their property, that is it in a nutshell. If it hadn’t have got out, it wouldn’t have attacked us.”
The residents said they wanted more awareness of attitudes toward keeping dogs enclosed in rural properties, as well as how much a careless dog owner could be liable through dog attacks.
“For us, there’s two areas. Responsible pet ownership, making sure before you do anything that involves you going outside, make sure your dog is secure,” they said.
“Particularly on rural properties, if you don’t have a separate dog enclosure, how do you contain your dog if it is able to run freely or over a property?
“It’s not necessary just a physical injury to another human or dog or a pet, it’s also the fact that no different to wandering livestock, it is your responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen.
“If you don’t secure your dog, and you open a gate, you are no longer, to be said, in control of your property. It doesn’t have to be that it attacks another dog, it could cause an accident where someone swerves a car and can hit a pedestrian walking along the road.”
