Dog owners urged to know their responsibilities

Published on Tuesday, 8 July 2025 at 9:56:24 AM

Responsible Dog Ownership Geraldton

Dog owners in Greater Geraldton are being urged to know their responsibilities when it comes to protecting their best mates as well as the community.

Off the back of 90 reported dog attacks this year, data indicates irresponsible dog ownership is increasing which is putting animals and people at risk.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Mayor Jerry Clune said it wasn’t good enough.

“We are highly concerned by the number of dog attacks that are occurring in our community and the repercussions these are having on our residents and pets,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who do the right thing, but there are many who are not taking their role as a dog owner seriously enough.

“While you may think this doesn’t apply to you, I urge all dog owners to ensure they can confidently tick everything off our responsible dog owner checklist.

“Owning a dog is a privilege and our community needs to step up to improve overall safety,” Mayor Clune finished.

The City takes dog attacks very seriously and with increasing numbers this year, enforcement actions will be stepped up in an effort to protect the community.

The penalty for a dog attack can be fines of up to $20,000, or even a prison sentence.

Resources and information on responsible dog ownership can be found on the City’s website.

Responsible Dog Ownership falls under the Connected pillar of the City’s Strategic Community Plan and reflects the organisation’s commitment to providing safe and inviting public spaces for people to enjoy.

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