Animal problems and concerns

Dog owners may be fined if their dogs roam the streets on their own. 

If you have a problem with dogs roaming in your neighbourhood you can complete and submit the Animal Management request.

All dogs bark as it is their main form of communication, but if you believe it is happening more often and more loudly than is reasonable, City of Hobart officers may be able to assist. In some cases the owner may not realise that the barking is causing a problem, particularly if it is happening when they are not home. If you have a problem with a barking dog in your area you can complete and submit the Barking dog concern form.

Please be aware, we are not able to take any anonymous complaints and therefore will not respond to any we receive.

The City of Hobart has a process to guide making such complaints, outlined below.

Stage 1

Upon receipt of a written complaint to the City of Hobart regarding a barking dog, a letter is sent to the dog owner notifying them a complaint has been received.

Often the dog owner is simply unaware their dog is causing a barking nuisance, particularly if they are at work.

Some dog owners choose to utilise the services of a dog behaviour specialist to assist them with the nuisance barking and this may take some time to achieve a positive outcome. In some cases it may require the dog owner to install additional fencing or to create a barrier if the dog is stimulated by sight.

Stage 2

If you feel there is no improvement in the barking after a letter has been sent to the dog owner, you will be required to lodge a formal complaint, pursuant to Section 47 of the Dog Control Act 2000. Please contact the Animal Management Unit on (03) 6238 2182 who can provide you with a formal complaint form and a barking diary, to be completed for at least ten (10) consecutive days.

These documents then need to be lodged with the City of Hobart, along with a formal complaint fee of $80, as outlined in Section 47(b) of the Dog Control Act 2000. Once the formal complaint form, the diary and the complaint fee have been received, the City will begin their investigation into the complaint.

It can be difficult at times to determine how long the investigation process may take in order to prove whether a barking nuisance exists. If City of Hobart officers are able to prove that a nuisance does exist, then the complaint fee is refunded to the complainant and penalties will apply to the dog owner.

Please be aware that privacy will be maintained at all times, unless City of Hobart officers are unable to determine whether nuisance barking exists and you wish to pursue the matter further. This may potentially result in you being called as a witness to attend a Court hearing to provide evidence.

If a dog attacks a person or another dog, the owner of the dog must notify Council within 24 hours of the attack. Not notifying Council is an offence under the Dog Control Act 2000.

If you have been involved in an incident with an aggressive dog, you can let Council know by completing and submitting the Dog attack investigation request or by phoning Council’s Animal Management Unit on (03) 6238 2182.

Any dog that has caused serious injury to a person or other animal, or is likely to cause serious injury, may be declared a dangerous dog. 

The City of Hobart makes the final decision and will consider all evidence before declaring a dog to be dangerous. The dog owner has the right to appeal the declaration within 14 days of the notice being served. 

All dogs used to guard non-residential premises are declared dangerous.

Dog owners are required to pick up their dog's droppings; if they don't, they can be fined.  

If you have issues with dog owners not picking up after their dog in your area, you can let us know by completing and submitting the Animal Management request.