Complaints about animals

Most complaints we get are about barking and roaming dogs or roaming cats.

Barking dogs

Barking Dogs can seriously disturb neighbours over quite a large area. All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the qulaity of life for their neighbours and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Barking dogs is the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with.

Ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem, and taking time to understand what makes dogs bark - especially your pet or other dogs in your neighbourhood - is the first step towards solving this problem, both for the dog involved and your neighbours.

Why do dogs bark?

• Dogs are social animals and often bark when they are lonely
• Separation from an owner can cause dogs to stress
• Barking may also be the result of boredom and frustration
• Barking is a dog's way of seeking attention from its owner
• Dogs bark out of fear - this can be fear of people, objects, or other dogs
• Dogs bark when there is a threat to their territory
• Playing with your dog often stimulates barking
• Some breeds have a reputation for barking, and
• Dominant dogs bark until they get what they want.

Controlling barking

The most important first step is to work out why your dog is barking. Once you know the symptom, you can find the cure. Barking can be controlled through several small behavioural changes. Some behavioural changes could be as small as walking your dog twice a day to relieve boredom.

Nuisance or roaming cats

Unlike dogs where it is an offence for them to roam, there are no requirements under the Companion Animals Act 2008 for cats to be contained within their property. However, it is part of being a responsible pet owner and we encourage owners to take measures to contain their cat within their yard.

Cats can live a happy, healthy life indoors or contained in their property.

If a neighborhood cat is creating a nuisance for you, we encourages people to speak to the owner first to try and resolve the problem.  If you can’t come to a resolution with your neighbour, contact us for assistance. If a cat is damaging property, killing wildlife or creating a nuisance such as noise, spraying or fighting with other cats, our rangers can speak with the cat owner. In some circumstances rangers can issue an order requiring them to address the problem.

Where a cat habitually wanders from their owner’s property, there is little compliance action Council Rangers can take however can they provide advice and information to the owner. Council's Cat Management Policy and Procedure provide a comprehensive framework for the management of domestic cats within the Albury local government area.