Dog attacks, aggressive dogs and regulated dogs

If you were attacked, or you own an animal that was attacked, gather information including:

• location
• time and date of the attack
• photos
• description of the offending dog
• name and address of the dog’s owner (if possible)
• contact details of witnesses.

Once you have reported the attack to us on 131 872, an animal management officer will contact you. You may also be asked to identify the dog/s involved in the attack. The nature of any further action will depend on the evidence available.

Seek veterinary advice

If the dog attacked your animal, seek veterinary advice so that its injuries can be assessed. Sometimes there may be few external signs of injury but internal injuries may have occurred.

Visit a doctor if required

If the dog bit you, visit a doctor as soon as possible for appropriate treatment. A written statement from your doctor regarding your injuries will assist with evidence for court should it be required.

Dogs involved in reported incidents and that pose a danger to the community may be deemed dangerous or menacing and declared as a regulated dog under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. An attack can occur on a public place or on private property if the person, animal or object is lawfully on the private property.

If your dog is declared regulated, you must meet strict requirements to ensure your dog does not harm any person, animal or wildlife in the future. 

We are not responsible for any expenses related to a dog attack. As the owner, you may be liable through civil action.

Dangerous dog declaration

A dangerous dog declaration may be made for a dog if the dog: 

• has seriously attacked, or acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal; or
• in the opinion of an authorised person, based on the dog’s behaviour, may seriously attack or act in a way that causes fear to a person or another animal.

Menacing dog declaration

A menacing dog declaration may be made for a dog if the behaviour mentioned above has occurred, except that the attack was not as serious.

Owner responsibilities for regulated dogs

If your dog is declared dangerous or menacing, you must meet the following requirements. Failure to comply may result in strong penalties.

Collars

Regulated dogs across Queensland must wear a specific type of distinctive collar:

• with a yellow and red striped pattern, red stripe of 25mm wide, diagonal to the rim of the collar at an angle of 45 degrees
• with at least one reflective colour so that it is visible in low light
• that has a yellow identification tag attached
• made of durable materials
• that can be securely fastened to the dog.

Public places

When taking your regulated dog into a public area, you must:

• muzzle the dog when it is in a public place (dangerous dogs only)
• keep your dog under effective control in public, one dog per handler, on leash, by a physically capable person.

Registration, microchipping and desexing

You must:

• pay the annual regulated dog registration fee 
• microchip and desex your dog within three months (dangerous dogs only).

Fences and enclosures

Fences and enclosures must:

• be maintained at or on the address in the registration notice for the dog and must be childproof and stop the dog from leaving the enclosure
• allow access to the front entrance so that a member of the public does not have to enter the enclosure
• be at least 10m2 in size
• must not include any area that is a swimming pool or area surrounding a swimming pool or all or part of a building usually used for residential purposes
• have walls at least 1m high above ground level if the dog is 8kg or less or walls at least 1.8m high above ground level if the dog is more than 8kg
• consist of firm and strong materials with walls designed to prevent children from climbing into the enclosure. The walls may include a perimeter fence for the relevant place or an exterior wall of a structure if it complies with all other requirements of the enclosure.
• include a weatherproof sheltered area appropriate for the dog
• include a gate which must be childproof, self-closing and self-latching; and comply with the requirements for the enclosure (height etc) and which must not be a vehicle access gate
• have another gate that is not self-closing and self-latching if it is not a vehicle gate, complies with requirements for the enclosure and is kept securely locked whenever it is not in immediate use.

Property signage

A sign/notice must be placed at or near each entrance to the place where the dog is usually kept notifying the public that a regulated dog is kept there.

The sign must:

• be at least 360mm in height and 260mm in width
• consist of firm and strong materials with a yellow background and black border
• contain the following information - 'BEWARE - MENACING DOG' OR 'BEWARE - DANGEROUS DOG' and 'declared under the dog Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, chapter 4'
• be impossible to remove or erase
• be legible.
• be printed in black with 'BEWARE - MENACING DOG' OR 'BEWARE - DANGEROUS DOG' font being in 50mm in height
• be printed in black with 'declared under the dog Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, chapter 4' at 15mm in height. 

Witnesses can gather and report information about the attack including:

• location
• time and date of the attack
• photos
• description of the offending dog
• name and address of the dog’s owners involved in the attack (if possible).

Once you have reported the attack to us on 131 872, an animal management officer will contact you.