Dogs & Pets

For the purposes of sections 45D and 50 of the Dog & Cat Management Act (guard dogs and dogs subject to a Menacing or Dangerous Dog Control Order), a collar meets the requirements of the Board if:

• it consists of red stripes alternately spaced with yellow stripes (or red and silver until 1 January 2010) each being of a width of 25 mm and set diagonal to the rim of the collar at an angle of 45 degrees; and

• at least one of the two colours reflects light in the dark; and
• it is made of durable materials; and
• it is able to be securely fastened; and
• it has a facility to attach a leash; and
  

it has a minimum width of:

• 15mm width for dogs under 10kg
• 25mm width dogs weighing between 10 and 20 kgs
• 40mm width for dogs weighing more than 20 kgs
• Greyhounds wearing a green collar indicate that they do not need to wear a muzzle because they have been trained not to chase small animals.
  

All other collars are non-regulated, but commercially available colour coded collars follow the general scheme:

• Green – means anyone can approach the dog
• Orange – means only people can approach
• Red – means neither people or other dogs can approach
• Yellow - means nervous
• Purple – means do not feed
• White – means dog is deaf and/or blind

Cats like to wander and may enter another person’s property. It is an offence, under our Cat Bylaw, for your cat to wander onto someone else’s property without their permission. Therefore you need to take steps to avoid this. For more information see our Factsheet - Cats in the Neighbourhood

Events that involve loud music or noises may affect your pets and compromise their safety. These can include concerts, fireworks or thunderstorms.

Below are some suggestions of how to prepare your pets for these events and keep them safe:

• Microchip your pets in case they escape the yard.
• Have an ID tag on your pets collar with your phone number.
• Exercise your pet before the event. This can alleviate anxiety.
• Keep your pet inside for the duration of the event.
• If pets are outside, ensure fences are secure and cannot be jumped.
• Allow your pet to find a space they feel safe. This may include under the bed or in a wardrobe.
• Stay home with your pet during the event if possible.
• Reward your pet for calm behaviour.
• Close windows and doors to minimise the amount of noise.
• Put on music or TV to distract your pet.

All dogs make noise at some time. However, if you are concerned about the level of noise a dog is creating the first step towards resolving the issue is to try to speak to the owner in a non-threatening manner and try to reach a compromise.

Often the dog owner can be unaware that their dog is causing a nuisance as they may not be at their property when the barking occurs. Most dog owners are willing to work with their neighbours to achieve an amicable outcome.

Should the problem persist please contact an Animal Management Officer on (08) 8229 9999 or email mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au

Should you become the victim of a dog attack or harassment please report the incident to us immediately.

If a complaint is received, the Officer will investigate and may issue a fine, or if the offence is more serious or repeated, a control order may be issued to the owner to ensure no further attacks or harassments occur.

A dog causing a nuisance, wandering at large or responsible for harassing, attacking or chasing should be reported to our Animal management team immediately. We also provide advice on training and other dog management issues. You can report a dog related issue on (08) 8229 9999 or email mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au

Events that involve loud music or noises may affect your pets and compromise their safety. These can include concerts, fireworks or thunderstorms.

Below are some suggestions of how to prepare your pets for these events and keep them safe:

• Microchip your pets in case they escape the yard.
• Have an ID tag on your pets collar with your phone number.
• Exercise your pet before the event. This can alleviate anxiety.
• Keep your pet inside for the duration of the event.
• If pets are outside, ensure fences are secure and cannot be jumped.
• Allow your pet to find a space they feel safe. This may include under the bed or in a wardrobe.
• Stay home with your pet during the event if possible.
• Reward your pet for calm behaviour.
• Close windows and doors to minimise the amount of noise.
• Put on music or TV to distract your pet.