A dog is legally considered a nuisance if it:
- Creates a noise, such as persistent barking, that unreasonably disturbs the peace and comfort of neighbours.
- Behaves in a way that is dangerous or injurious to a person's health.
Responsibilities as an owner
Owners must prevent their dogs from becoming a nuisance, including the legal requirement to immediately clean up any faeces left in a public place.
Handling nuisance complaints
A person affected by a nuisance dog may lodge a formal complaint with their local council. The council will investigate and, if it determines a nuisance exists, may issue an abatement notice to the owner. This notice requires the owner to take actions to resolve the problem, with penalties for failing to comply.
