Animal management fees and charges
Here are the fees we charge for animal management, including dog registration fees and pound charges.
All charges include GST, effective from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Dog registration and dog impounding fees are imposed under the Dog Control Act 1996. Driving charges and impounding fees for animals other than dogs are imposed under the Impounding Act 1955. The fees and charges are necessary to recover the cost to Council of providing these services.
Fixed fees
These charges cover the standard cost to Council in carrying out the work listed. However, additional charges may be charged depending on the circumstances, such as additional inspection fees that may be incurred in doing the work noted below.
| Dog registration |
Standard fee 2024-25 |
Total fee (including penalty) if paid after 1 August |
| General registration |
$176 |
$264 |
| General registration (desexed dog) |
$131 |
$196.50 |
| Preferred owner |
$99 |
$148.50 |
| Rural working |
$61 |
$91.50 |
| Disability assist |
no charge |
no charge |
| Certified for use by specified agency |
no charge |
no charge |
| Preferred owner or multiple dog permit application |
$64 |
|
Dog registration fees are set under the Dog Control Act 1996. Disability assist and specified agency are as defined in section 2 of the Act.
The registration fee for a dog that is declared a dangerous dog will be 150% of the level that would apply if it were not so classified (as required by section 32 (1)(e) of the Dog Control Act 1996).
These fees are set under S.68 of the Dog Control Act 1996.
| Pound fees for dogs |
Fee |
| When a dog is registered, microchipped, has no history with our animal management team within the past 12 months and can be returned home immediately, there is no cost. |
Nil |
| When a dog is registered, microchipped, has no history with our animal management team within the past 12 months and needs to be held in the pound pending same-day collection, a holding fee will apply. |
$50 |
| First impound |
$148 |
| Second impound, within 12 months of first impound |
$222 |
| Third or subsequent impound, within 12 months of previous impound |
$298 |
| Daily charge per dog per day or part of a day |
$23 |
| Surrender of a dog |
$98 |
| Adoption fee (covers microchipping, vaccination, neutering and registration) |
$425 |
Set under the Impounding Act 1955.
| Pound fees for all animals other than dogs |
Per head |
| First offence |
$124 |
| Repeated offence |
$187 |
| Sustenance and care |
$15 per day |
Other fees
These fees may be added to the fixed fees list above or may be applied as a single charge.
Supplementary feed for stock
$150% of sustenance charge.
Emergency release of animals from the pound outside normal hours
Normal hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory and public holidays. Emergency release fees are in addition to the impound fees.
| Emergency release of dogs |
Fee |
| First emergency release |
$74 |
| Second emergency release, within 12 months of first impound |
$111 |
| Third and subsequent emergency releases, within 12 months of previous impound |
$149 |
| Emergency release of other animals |
Fee |
| First emergency release |
$70 |
| Second or subsequent emergency release, within 12 months o first impound |
$105 |
| Driving charges |
Fee |
| Hire transport |
Actual cost incurred by Council |
| Council vehicles |
$2.26 per kilometre |
| Microchipping |
Fee per dog |
| To carry out microchipping |
$30 |
| Charges for Council staff |
Rate per hour (or part thereof) |
| Team Leader, Animal Management and Education |
$223 |
| Animal Control Officer |
$157 |
| Administration staff |
$144 |
| Manager, Environmental Protection |
$275 |
| General Manager |
$294 |
Guidance note
The environmental protection manager is authorised to remit, reduce or refund the dog control fee or part of the fee in any particular case or class of dog where there are special grounds for doing so.