If you have a concern about the welfare of any animal, pet or livestock, contact the RSPCA for advice and assistance.
Exercise/Stimulation/Mental Health
Council has a range of options to exercise your dog.
For Further Information:
- Online Interactive Map - Takes effect from 1st April 2025.
- Schedule B Declared Areas - Takes effect from 1st April 2025.
Fireworks/Storms/Events
The following information is appropriate for domestic pets, especially cats and dogs but may be useful for other domestic animals too.
- Do not punish your pet for exhibiting behaviour during times of stress.
- Attempt to engage, distract and reassure your pet that everything is OK, but don't 'force' this if it becomes particularly distressed.
- Provide access to a safe area where your pet may feel more at ease. Animals usually indicate their preferences such as under a bed or inside a wardrobe. Allow it to go where it wants to feel safe. Close bird cages, rabbit hutches and other fixed enclosures and ensure the pet door and windows are closed and locked.
- Make sure that your boundary fences and gates are secure and that your pet cannot readily escape through them or over them.
- Ensure that your pet wears identification, particularly a microchip. In the unfortunate event that your pet should escape from your property, it will run blindly away without regard to where it is going. When it eventually calms down it will probably not know where it is or how to return. A microchip gives you the greatest chance that you and your pet will be reunited.
- If you know that your pet is extremely fearful of thunderstorms, consult your vet to see if he or she can prescribe medication that will calm it in known times of stress.
For Further Information:
RSPCA Fact Sheets
RSPCA has prepared the following Fact Sheets:
Dogs security in backyards
To ensure community safety and to avoid your dog escaping, conduct a yard check to ensure there are no areas where your dog can get out. Escaped dogs roaming the streets present a risk to the community.
Dogs escape for many reasons, such as:
- Inadequate fencing
- Being left alone for long periods of time and becoming bored and frustrated.
- Separation anxiety and/or fear of loud noises, thunder and fireworks. Seeking veterinarian advice may assist with separation anxiety.
- Dogs that are not desexed are more likely to roam.
- Hyperactive dogs.
Suggested solutions
| Common ways of escape | How to make your yard 'dog secure' |
|---|---|
| Dogs revert to digging under fences and houses when they are bored and lonely or when there are thunderstorms and fireworks happening. | Bury wire deep down at the base of your fence. Cover with rocks or cement to prevent the dog digging. |
| Provide your dog with stimulating toys, kongs or a huge bone to keep them entertained while you are away. | |
| Climbing or jumping fences. | Remove all obstacles that are close to or next to the fences so your dog can’t use it as a springboard. |
| Add extender fences at a 45 degree angle to prevent dogs from climbing or jumping. | |
| Pushing through rotting timber or squeezing through gaps in fences or forcefully pushing back palings. | Check all fence palings, replace where necessary. Ensure there are no gaps around the perimeter of the yard. Use chicken wire at bottom of fencing to middle railing. |
| Escaping through gates that are not properly latched. | Ensure latches and locks on gates and doors are operable and lock securely closed. Replace any faulty locks. |
| Slipping out between owners or visitors legs when answering a door. | If your dog accompanies you to answer the door, pop it on a lead to ensure you have total control. |
| Alternatively put the dog outside in a secure area before you answer the door. | |
| Train your dog to sit/drop and stay while you are answering the door. |