Dog Control and Behaviour

There are eight off leash dog areas and one enclosed dog park within the City of Mount Gambier where dogs are welcome to exercise and play off leash.

While in an off leash area the owner must not allow the dog to rush, chase, threaten, or bite any person or animal. Owners must have voice or hand control of the dog so as to be able to promptly bring the dog under effective control by placing it on a chain, cord or leash if that becomes necessary.

Off leash areas

• Corriedale Park,
• Hastings Cunningham Reserve,
• Northumberland Reserve (behind the Blue Lake/Warwar),
• Frew Park,
• Don McDonnell Reserve,
• Blue Lake Sports Park (excluding sporting fields and ovals),
• Botanic Park, and
• Marist Park.

Dog are prohibited in ALL playground areas.

Map - Off Leash and On Leash areas

Hastings Cunningham Reserve Dog Park

The enclosed dog park at Hastings Cunningham Reserve located on Shepherdson Road was built with support and assistance from The Lions Club, The Men’s Shed, Lakes Rotary and by Council Officers and members. The park has been developed for socialisation and exercise of pets and owners in an enclosed area.

Please follow the dog park rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable off-leash experience for you, your dog and others at all times.

• Respect all park users,
• Ensure your dog is registered,
• Ensure your dog is vaccinated to help keep them healthy,
• Maintain effective control and supervise your dog at all times,
• Remove your dog if it annoys, intimidates of becomes aggressive towards other dogs,
• Adults must supervise children at all times,
• Clean up after your dog and dispose of waste appropriately,
• Maximum of two dogs per person,
• Make sure your dog is already socialised, and
• Avoid bringing toys and food into the park.

Please note the owner of a dog is responsible for their dogs actions at all times including whilst in the dog exercise yard.

Dogs are an important part of our lives and community and barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate.

Dogs that bark excessively may become a major source of irritation for neighbours and others in the community. Our loyal canine companions, can- if barking continually, become an intrusion and create friction between neighbours.

The City of Mount Gambier Council receives numerous complaints regarding nuisance barking dogs. By you approaching the dog’s owner in a neighbourly manner and discussing your concerns with them sometimes easily resolves this type of complaint.

The dog’s owner may not be aware that the barking is causing an annoyance to other people.

Bear in mind:

• The dog may bark excessively when the owner is not home.
• The owner may not be aware of the dogs barking from various areas within the house.
• The owner may be a sound sleeper and not awaken when the dog barks.

Council officers work with complainants and pet owners to investigate, substantiate and address barking dog complaints. Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their pets are kept under control, with minimal disruption to those living in close proximity.

When a barking dog complaint is provided to Council's authorised officers, they give the complainant a diary to record and monitor the barking over a period of time. Authorised officers will work with the owner of the barking dog to determine the cause and give advice regarding the means of keeping it quiet and modifying the dog's behaviour.

If you have tried all avenues, please download and complete the Barking Dog Complaint Kit.

Other helpful resources

• What causes dogs to bark excessively
• Home alone | Dog and Cat Management Board
• Dog and Cat Management Board for tips to reduce excessive barking

Dogs found wandering at large by authorised officers will be returned to the owner (traceable through the registration disc/microchip) whenever possible. Where a dog is repeatedly found to be wandering at large, the owner will be required to secure the animal such that it is kept under control and continual expiation notices may be issued, or a Control Order issued.

Council will issue warnings and/or expiation notices for lost and wandering dogs as appropriate. An expiation fee of $210 may apply.

Council officers are available to collect found restrained dogs or attend to dog attacks after hours. Please call our Council Office and After Hours Call Centre on 08 8721 2555.

It is an offence under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 for a dog to attack or harass a person or animal.

If there is an incident of a dog attack or harassment, ensure you and your pet have received necessary treatment before reporting to Council. When safe to do so, contact our Council on 8721 2555.

If the dog is still wandering at large, and poses a threat, make sure you are in a secure place before reporting.

When reporting a dog attack, gathering detailed and accurate information is crucial.

Incident details:

• Date, time, and exact location of the attack.
• Offending dog description/registration disc, name tag, collar size and colour, breed, colour and marking and sex of the dog.

Owner description:

• Name, address, contact number, gender, age, hair colour, clothing.
• Vehicle details (if applicable): Car registration number, make, model, colour (if the owner drove away with the dog).

Injury documentation:

• Description and photos of injuries (to you or your pet) with location on the body.
• Medical certificates or vet/doctor reports as evidence.

The Police (SAPOL) can provide immediate assistance involving serious dog attacks.

Dog owners must pick up after their dog when in public and dispose of the waste appropriately as per By Law No. 5 - 2018.

Council provides some dog waste bins in our off leash areas however owners are responsible for carrying their own plastic bags or scooper. There are free doggy bags available in dispensers at the off leash dog parks, and at Council offices. Failure to remove dog faeces can cost you $210.

It is now an offence to sell, supply, distribute or manufacture oxo-degradable plastic products in South Australia, therefore Council has changed all dog waste bag dispensers to a more environmentally friendly alternative.

City of Mount Gambier’s By Law No. 5 - 2018 - Dog Controls 11. No person is to allow a dog under that persons control, charge or authority to be in a public place or on Local Government Land unless that person has in their possession a bag or other suitable container for the collection and lawful disposal of any faeces that the dog may deposit (for the purpose of complying with their obligation under section 45A (6) of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995). By Law Breach: $80.

All animals born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed as outlined in Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 Section 42E and Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017.

There are many advantages in desexing dogs and cats:

• Desexed pets tend to live longer, healthier lives as the incidence of health problems are reduced,
• Domestic animal breeding with stray animals is reduced,
• Males show a significant reduction in aggressive, dominating and territorial behaviour,
• Wandering is significantly reduced, and
• Desexed dogs are much easier to control and any problems are generally easier to overcome due to reduced hormonal responses.

For a reduced rate for desexing please contact your vet for more advice and support.

The Dog and Cat Management Act sets out a number of offences for which the owner or person responsible for the control of a dog can be fined. These include the dog:

• Wandering at large,
• Unregistered dog,
• Attacking, harassing or chasing a person or animal,
• Attacking a person lawfully entering premises,
• Being in a school, kindergarten or child care centre,
• Being in a shop (but not a pet shop, veterinary office or dog grooming parlour) or a place where food and drink is sold or prepared,
• Chasing a vehicle, and
• Defecating in a public place (unless the person with control of the dog immediately removes and disposes of the faeces).

Some of these requirements do not apply to Guide, Hearing & Disability Dogs.