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Why animal management is importantAnimals that are not controlled can cause a lot of health and social problems. Dog attacks on people and other animals are among the worst problems. Serious diseases can be spread in animal urine and faeces (droppings). Barking dogs can also cause trouble between neighbours and upset community harmony.
To reduce the risks to people, animals and property, all local governments should have good animal management laws, which AMWs must enforce.
People have been killed in dog attacks in Queensland, including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Every day of the year, Australian children bitten by dogs have to be taken to hospital. The dogs are often household pets that are not properly controlled.
On its Kidsafe page, the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia lists the following examples of attacks that happened without warning:
Almost any dog is able to cause serious injury and it is very difficult to tell when a dog will attack. Some can kill, especially if they are allowed to roam in packs.
Dogs that are allowed to roam in public places can also cause noise, smell, and disease problems. For example:
Dogs that are kept in securely fenced yards can still be a nuisance to others. For example, a savage dog can frighten people going past its yard.
Bigger animals, like horses and cows, can also cause problems, including damaging fences and other property and leaving manure that attracts flies.
It doesn’t take long for uncontrolled dogs, cats, goats and other animals to build up their numbers. When they scavenge for food in rubbish bins or fight in public areas, people are put at risk. Unwanted pups and other baby animals often have to be put down (destroyed) by the local council. The model local laws provided by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation include sections such as banning female dogs in heat from public areas.
Problems also occur when a person has too many dogs at their house. The problems include increased noise, hygiene concerns (odour from urine and faeces) and not enough space for the dogs to move around and exercise (this increases boredom and similar behavioural problems). It is important to put a limit on the number of dogs a person is allowed to have at their house. Many councils put the limit as two dogs per house.
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