Lost Dogs
What to do if you find a lost dog
If you find a dog wandering, please contact Council on 8391 7200 - if out of hours this number will be diverted to Council's after-hours service. We can check our registers and return the dog to its owner quickly.
If the owner cannot be identified, a Public Safety Officer will collect the dog and scan for a microchip. If no owner is found, the dog will be cared for at our holding facility and eventually rehomed if necessary.
Dog Owner's Responsibility
It is a dog owner's responsibility to keep their dog on their property to prevent nuisances or threats to others and avoid road hazards.
The dog owner can be held liable for their dog's actions if not properly secured. According to Section 43 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, it is an offense for a dog to wander at large, and penalties apply.
Wandering Dogs
A dog is considered to be 'wandering at large' if the dog is in a public or private place (i.e. shopping centre or Council streets and roads) without the consent of the occupier and nobody is exercising effective control of the dog by means of a physical restraint.
A dog is considered to be ‘wandering at large in a park’ if no person is exercising effective control of the dog, either
- By means of a physical restraint
- By command, the dog being in close proximity to the person and the person being able to see the dog at all times
If your dog is found to be wandering at large, it will be taken to the Pound. It will be held there for three days and if not collected, the pound will attempt to re-home it.
Each dog will be charged an impound fee. If the dog is also unregistered and over three months of age, it will also be necessary to register the dog before it is released. You may also receive a fine for 'Dog Wandering at Large'.
What to do if your dog has been collected by Council
To claim your dog:
- Provide current identification.
- Ensure your dog's registration is up-to-date.
- Pay all impound fees.
- Be aware that expiations may also be issued.
Your dog can be collected from Council's Dog Pound which is located at 60 Martins Road, Hahndorf. Dogs will be available for collection between 10.00am and 4.00pm or by appointment by phoning 8388 7514.
Impounded or Lost Dogs
| Date/time | Location found | Breed | Sex | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|