Residents

Enclosures for Dangerous & Restricted Dogs

The Companion Animals Amendment Act 2005 requires that dogs classed as restricted and dogs, which have been declared dangerous, must be kept in an enclosure that complies with requirements outlined in the Companion Animals Regulation. Owners must comply with these requirements. Severe penalties and/or the dog may be seized if the requirements prescribed by the Regulations are not met.

Requirements of Enclosures

An enclosure must:

• Be fully enclosed, constructed and maintained in such a way so that the dog is not able to dig or otherwise escape under, over or through the enclosure, and
• Be constructed in such a way so that a person cannot have access to it without the assistance of an occupier of the property who is above the age of 16 years, and
• Be designed to prevent children from having access to the enclosure, and
• Not be located on the property in such a way so that people are required to pass through the enclosure to gain access to other parts of the property, and
• Have a minimum height of 1.8 metres and a minimum width of 1.8 metres, and
• Have an area of not less than 10 square metres for each dangerous or restricted dog kept on the property, and
• Have walls, a fixed covering and a gate that are constructed of:

1. brick, timber, iron or similar solid materials, or
2. mesh that is chain mesh manufactured from at least 3.15mm wire to form a maximum mesh spacing or 50mm or weldmesh manufactured from at least 4mm wire with a maximum mesh spacing of 50mm.
3. a combination of the materials referred to in subparagraphs 1 and 2, and

• Have a floor that is constructed of sealed concrete and graded to fall to a drain for the removal of effluent, and
• Provide a weatherproof sleeping area.

Any gate to the enclosure must:

• Contain a self-closing and self-latching mechanism that enables the enclosure to be securely locked when the dog is in the enclosure, and
• Be kept locked when the dog is in the enclosure, and
• Display the warning sign referred to below.

Warning signs for dangerous and restricted dogs

• The sign must be no smaller than 40cm x 40cm,
• The sign must be made of durable materials,
• The sign must show the words "Warning Dangerous Dog" in letters that are sufficient size so as to be clearly visible from the boundaries of the property and that are in any case, at least 50mm high and 10mm wide.

Distinctive collars for dangerous and restricted dogs

A collar is of the prescribed kind if:

• It consists of red stripes alternatively spaced with yellow stripes each being a width of 25mm and set diagonal to the rim of the collar at an angle of 45 degrees, and
• At least one of the 2 colours reflects light in the dark, and
• It is made of durable materials, and
• It has a device or other facility that enables it to be attached to a leash, and
• It has a minimum width of:

1. 25mm for a dog weighing less than 20kg, or
2. 40mm for a dog weighing between 20kg and 40kg, or
3. 50mm for a dog weighing more than 40kg.

Approval for the construction of an enclosure

Council Approval

The building of an enclosure, which complies with the above requirements, may require approval by Council before construction. Please contact Blacktown City Councils Buildings Approval Team on 9839-6000 for more information.

Department of Housing Approval

If you live in a property owned by the Department of Housing, you will need to make enquiries with the Department as to whether the construction of this type of enclosure would be permitted.

Tenants

Residents which are renting or leasing the property in which they occupy will need to make enquiries with the owner of the property, seeking approval, before considering the construction of this type of enclosure.

Click the link below for an information sheet on Control Specifications for Dangerous and Restricted Breed Dogs

 Control Specifications