“It is important for all pet owners to be aware of their responsibilities,” Council’s ranger team leader Vanessa Montgomery.

“All dogs, including dangerous and restricted dogs, must be microchipped and registered on the NSW Companion Animals Register. Greyhounds and some working dogs are exempt, but the working dogs must be used primarily for the purpose of droving, tending, working or protecting stock. Hunting dogs and guard dogs are not considered working dogs and they must be microchipped and registered.

“After the tragic death of a child, the laws were also amended in 2008 giving Councils the power to declare a dog dangerous if it is kept or used for the purposes of hunting.”

A dog can also be declared dangerous if it has displayed unreasonable aggression towards a person or animal, or if it has, without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal, or repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal.

A number of dogs, including the American pitbull terrier or Pitbull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino (Argentinean fighting dog) and Fila Brasiliero (Brazilian fighting dog) are also restricted breeds and it is an offence in NSW to sell, acquire or breed them.

“If anyone notices a dog acting in an aggressive or threatening manner, I encourage them to contact Council immediately on 4823 4570 or 4823 4444,” Ms Montgomery said.

“If we receive a report of a potentially dangerous dog, our Rangers will investigate and determine if we believe a notice should be issued to the owner.

“If the dog or dogs are declared dangerous, special restrictions will apply. This includes desexing of the animal, a requirement that it is kept in an appropriate enclosure, that an approved ‘Warning Dangerous Dog’ sign be displayed at the property, that the dog be muzzled when outside its enclosure, and at all times the dog must wear a distinctive red and yellow striped collar.”

Failure to comply with any of the dangerous dog requirements attracts a $1320 fine.

If a dangerous or restricted dog attacks or bites a person, or if an incident takes place as a result of the owner failing to comply with the control requirements, a maximum fine of $55,000 and/or two years imprisonment can be the penalty. But it is not just dangerous or restricted dogs that are affected by Companion Animal laws. Even if their dog is unlikely to cause harm, all dog owners must abide by some very specific requirements.

Firstly, pet owners must ensure their dog is microchipped and lifetime registered, which also helps Council return lost pets.

If a dog is in a public place it must be under the “effective control of a competent person” by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash.

(The exceptions to this are dogs exhibited at a show or engaging in obedience or agility trials, working, tending or droving stock; or in an approved off-leash area).

If the dog is being exercised in an approved off-leash area, it must always be under effective control of a competent person. People are not permitted to walk more than four dogs at any one time in an on-leash area or an off-leash area.

Greyhounds must be muzzled at all times when in a public place. If a dog defecates in a public place it is an offence not to remove the faeces. Dogs are prohibited in children’s play areas, food preparation/ consumption areas, recreation areas, public bathing areas, school grounds, child care centres, shopping areas and wildlife protection areas.