Dog Control Act 2000
19Dogs attacking persons or animals
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19 Dogs attacking persons or animals
[Section 19 Subsection (1) substituted by No. 74 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:15 Dec 2003] [Section 19 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 74 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:15 Dec 2003] [Section 19 Substituted by No. 72 of 2009, s. 8, Applied:01 Jul 2010]
(1) If a dog that is not under the effective control of a person on private premises, or that is not under the effective control of a person in a public place, rushes at or chases any person, the owner of the dog is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
(2) If a dog that is not a dangerous dog or a restricted breed dog attacks or bites any person or animal and the injuries caused by the dog to the person or animal are not in the nature of a serious injury, the owner of the dog is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
(3) [Section 19 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 53 of 2019, s. 6, Applied:18 Dec 2019] If a dog that is not a dangerous dog or a restricted breed dog attacks or bites any person and causes a serious injury to the person, the owner of the dog is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 30 penalty units.
(3A) [Section 19 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 53 of 2019, s. 6, Applied:18 Dec 2019] If a dog that is not a dangerous dog or a restricted breed dog attacks or bites any animal and causes a serious injury or death to the animal, the owner of the dog is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(4) [Section 19 Subsection (4) amended by No. 55 of 2017, s. 15, Applied:20 Dec 2017] If a dangerous dog or a restricted breed dog, that is not a guard dog being used to guard premises that are not residential premises, attacks or bites any person or animal, the owner of the dog is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 30 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or both.
(5) If a dog attacks a person, the owner of the dog must notify the council within 24 hours after the attack.