Sunshine Coast Council has approved a year-long inspection program targeting the region’s regulated dogs, with officers to check compliance of more than 130 animals.
The program will cost an estimated at $61,560, which is funded through registration fees paid by owners of regulated dogs, which are animals considered either dangerous or menacing.
Councillors voted unanimously at the ordinary general meeting on September 18 to adopt the systematic inspection program for regulated dogs, which will run for 12 months from November 14.
A council officer’s report ahead of the meeting said the program gave authorised inspectors the power to enter private properties and check whether owners of regulated dogs were complying with mandatory safety conditions.
“Council has committed to empowering responsible pet ownership through education, proactive community engagement and regulation programs,” the report said.
“This ensures that pet owners are informed of their responsibilities and can make choices to keep our community safe when managing their pets. One of the key education and regulation actions undertaken for community safety is the program.
“In cases where a dog is regulated, council undertakes an annual audit to ensure the dog is being kept in accordance with mandatory conditions including additional signage, specialised containment, use of a muzzle and desexing of some animals.”
As of August 18 there were 135 regulated dogs on the council’s register, which includes animals declared menacing or dangerous after attacks on people or other animals. Of those, 90 were declared due to attacks on other animals, while 45 followed attacks on people.
The council has wide-ranging powers around regulated dogs, including handing out fines of up to $2503, issuing compliance notices, seizing animals considered a risk or, in the most serious cases, ordering the destruction of the dog. Further action can also be taken through the courts, with a maximum penalty of $25,035.
Since August 2024 only one regulated dog in the council area had reoffended, with a destruction notice issued.
Related story:Â State plans to ban five dangerous dog breeds
Registration fees for 2025-26 are set at $612 for dangerous or menacing dogs, or $470 for desexed menacing dogs. The council is required to offer an incentive to owners of menacing dogs to desex their pet.
Based on current registrations, the council expects to collect about $79,496 in fees.
“The balance of the cost-recovery fees collected for registration contributes to cover the cost of managing the yearly registration administrative process for regulated dogs,” the report said.
The council’s website says there are more than 54,000 registered dogs across the Sunshine Coast.
The 2024-25 inspection program identified 134 regulated dogs and has so far recorded an 84 per cent compliance rate among owners. Of 64 audits completed, 54 owners met all conditions, eight required compliance notices, five resolved issues after the first inspection and three required further follow-up. Twenty dogs were found to have died since the last inspection, while four had been relocated or were unaccounted for.
The report said follow-up inspections were required in about 12.5 per cent of inspections, based on past results.
The 2025-26 program required endorsement from the council under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.
