Case Number: 2022/335715
Date of Findings: 26 February 2025
Magistrate: Deputy State Coroner, Carmel Forbes
CORONIAL LAW - Dog attack of a two-year-old boy - Examination of the Companion Animals Act 1998 regulatory regime - Recommendations for regulatory changes
Responses
| Recommendations to | Response |
|---|
| Minister for Local Government | Awaiting |
Recommendations
To the Minister for Local Government and the Office of Local Government (OLG):
- The Minister and the OLG, in conjunction with such other state agencies as considered appropriate, examine whether enclosure and/or control requirements should be introduced with respect to onsite dogs owned by hotel or motel accommodation providers, akin to requirements that exist for outdoor pool fencing.
- The Minister and the OLG examine, in consultation with councils, the development and implementation of a Statewide public awareness and education campaign to educate dog owners and the community generally about the risks posed by dogs and how safely to interact with them.
- The Minister and the OLG, in consultation with councils and other stakeholders, introduce a licensing requirement for dog ownership, which may involve license conditions calibrated for particular breeds of dogs and with applicants being required to undergo education with respect to safety and risk management. Alternatively, introduce a licensing regime for dog owners of breeds which are disproportionately involved in reported dog attacks and fatal dog attacks.
- The Minister and the OLG review the adequacy of the penalties for non-compliance with registration and identification requirements for dogs in the Companion Animals Act 1998 (CA Act) and the Regulation.
- The Minister and the OLG examine the adequacy of the maximum penalites for the offences provided by ss 12A, 13, 14, 16 and 17 of the CA Act.
