Problem Animals/Animal Complaints
If you would like to report an animal complaint or have found a stray dog or cat, please select from the list below to find the appropriate contact details and course of action.
Dog Attacks and Livestock on Roads
Council no longer provides a Compliance Officer for after hours matters. For afterhours emergencies for serious dog attacks and straying stock only you contact our afterhours service on 0408 210 196. If the matter is urgent you will be directed to contact the Griffith Police Station.
Please note: Compliance Officers or after-hours service will not collect straying dogs or cats, or accept animal surrenders after business hours.
Animal Cruelty
Councils are not legally empowered to enforce animal welfare concerns. If you suspect or witness cruelty to an animal, you should directly contact one of the legally empowered authorised enforcement agencies.
The RPSCA or Police are the authority for animal cruelty matters and has powers to enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 in NSW. To report animal cruelty:
- RSPCA on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589) or report online: www.rspca.org.au/report-cruelty or;
- Contact the Griffith police on 6969 4299.
Lost or Roaming Dogs
During business hours, lost or roaming dogs can be reported to Council Compliance Officers on 1300 176 077. Upon request Compliance staff MAY collect roaming dogs during business hours. Roaming dogs may also be taken to the Griffith Pound and Rehoming Centre, by appointment.
If you have lost a dog or cat, see our Griffith Pound and Rehoming Centre Facebook page or Lost and Missing Animals Section of this Website, here. Alternatively, contact 1300 176 077 during business hours to find out if it has been impounded by Council.
Whether your pet is a dog or cat it is your responsibility as a pet owner to keep pets secure.
If your animal is microchipped and registered, you will be required to pay an impounding fee before your animal can be released. Please contact us to discuss fees and charges.
If your dog was seized by our Rangers in a public place, you may be issued with an infringement. See penalty details for Responsibilities of Dog Owners under the Companion Animals Act 1998 here.
If you have found a dog or cat, try to contact the owner if the animal is wearing a collar or identification tag. You may make your own enquiries to find the owner such as asking neighbours, posting on Facebook pages including Griffith Pound and Rehoming Centre Facebook page, advising Vets or local radio stations.
If you fail to find the owner within 72 hours, the animal must be turned over to Council so that further attempts can be made to locate the owner.
Barking Dogs
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 nuisance barking is defined as:
A dog that barks excessively can be annoying to neighbours. If you have a complaint regarding your neighbours barking dog, it is recommened to approach the dog's owner and state your case clearly and politely. Chances are they are unaware of their dog's behaviour.
If the problem persists, there are a few ways to resolve the issue:
- Contact the Community Justice Centre (CJC) to help mediate and settle the problem. Visit the CJC website https://www.cjc.justice.nsw.gov.au/ or call 1800 990 777 for more information.
- If mediation is unsuccessful and the noise problem persists you can contact Council and you will be required to fill out a Dog Nuisance Barking Diary. Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, a Council officer can issue a nuisance order (which incurs a fine for non-compliance) to the dog's owner.
- Seek a noise abatement order from your local court.
If you're not able to resolve the matter by communication with the owner in the first instance and contacting the Community Justice Centre in the second instance, a complaint can be made to Council Customer Service Officers on 1300 176 077. You will need to provide necessary information including details of the nuisance, address of nuisance animal, and your details. The matter will be referred to Compliance Officers for investigation and determination.
Further information on how you can deal with Barking Dogs can be found on the NSW EPA website, by clicking here. A 'Dealing with Barking Dogs' fact sheet can be can be downloaded by clicking here.
If you suspect the dog is being mistreated, please refer to our Animal Cruelty information above.
Nuisance Cats
Council does not respond to Cat complaints.
It is to be noted, under the provisions of the Companion Animals Act 1998 cats within New South Wales are considered to have no boundaries and are free to roam except in prohibited places such as protected wildlife areas and where food is prepared or consumed.
Due to this freedom we are unable to actively patrol with a view of seizing stray cats, and it is often difficult to determine someone's pet from a stray, homeless or feral cat.
If you have a complaint regarding your neighbour's cat, it is recommended to approach the cat's owner and state your case clearly and politely. Chances are they are unaware of their cat's behaviour.
Does your garden have a cat problem?
- Talk to your neighbours – If you know who owns the cat, council recommends you firstly approach the cat’s owner. Often, they will be apologetic and make an effort to rectify the problem by keeping their cat contained.
- Cats are creatures of habit and will often return to the same area regularly for sunning, defecating or urinating. If this is a problem in your garden, then it is important to break this habit. There are a number of deterrents that you can try which may or may not prove successful.
- Using a hose to squirt the cat with water is a good deterrent, and a cat that has been ‘caught’ several times may be reluctant to return. This does not harm the cat and the best results are achieved from squirts to the flank, not the face.
- Making a loud noise to startle the cat is also a useful deterrent – for a limited time. Cats will associate the unpleasantness with your presence and may return later when you are not around.
- Natural cat deterrents and repellents:
Also try sprinkling dried nut or bean shells, broken egg shells, holly leaves, crumpled aluminium cans, crumpled aluminium foil or rock mulch.
Commercial cat repellent sprays and gels are also available from plant nurseries or vets. These methods will only work if the cat does not like the smell of the product.
Plants that are natural cat deterrents:
• Rue – Ruta graveolens • Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
• Curry plant – Helichrysum augustfolium • Geranium – Pelargonium
• Scaredy cat plant – Plectranthus caninus • Lemon thyme – Thymus citriodorus
• Lavender – Lavandula augustifolia • Pennyroyal – Mentha pulegium
Another deterrent that can be used for a particular place in your garden is placing cacti or other prickly plants around the area where the cat visits.
Do not use a disinfectant that contains ammonia, as this may attract cats to the area.
Council will not become involved in neighbourhood disputes.
