NSWIn ForceAct
Companion Animals Act 1998
17Dog must not be encouraged to attack
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 17
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Companion Animals Act 1998.
#### 17 Dog must not be encouraged to attack
17 Dog must not be encouraged to attack
> > (1) A person who sets on or urges a dog (other than a dangerous, menacing or restricted dog) to attack, bite, harass or chase any person or animal (other than vermin) is guilty of an offence, whether or not actual injury is caused.
> >
> > Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.
>
> > (1A) A person who sets on or urges a dangerous, menacing or restricted dog to attack, bite, harass or chase any person or animal (other than vermin) is guilty of an offence, whether or not actual injury is caused.
> >
> > Maximum penalty—700 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years, or both.
> >
> > Note.
> >
> > If the dog is a dangerous, menacing or restricted dog, conviction for an offence under this section results in permanent disqualification from owning a dog or from being in charge of a dog in a public place. See section 23.
>
> > (2) This section does not apply to something done by a person—
> >
> > > (a) in the reasonable defence of a person or property,
> >
> > > (b) in the proper performance of the person’s duties as a police officer or correctional officer (within the meaning of the [Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1999-093)),
> >
> > > (c) in the course of the use of a dog for the working of stock or the training of a dog in the working of stock,
> >
> > > (d) in the course of lawful hunting.
>
> **s 17:** Am 2001 No 23, Sch 1 \[15\]; 2005 No 101, Sch 1 \[34\]; 2010 No 1, Sch 2.1 \[6\]; 2013 No 86, Sch 1 \[16\].