Ranger Services

Dog Registrations  Dog Registration

Registering Your Dog       

Registering your dog is compulsory and the following rules set out in the Dog Act must be followed:

  • Register your dog with Council after it is 3 months old and keep it registered
  • Attach the registration tag and a name tag with your name, address and phone number to your dog's collar
  • Only two dogs are allowed on each property. If an owner would like to have more than two dogs, special permits must be applied for from Council before this can occur.
  • When outside your own property, keep your dog on a leash at all times you may only have two under your control in a public place
  • Pick up after your dog if it defecated on the footpath, verge or public open space

Please Note: New Dog Laws state that ALL dogs must be microchipped. Failure to comply with this could mean fines of up to $200 per offence.

Dogs may be registered at the Shire Administration Office: 15 Maddock Street, Mukinbudin

Please note that Dog Registrations expire on the 31st October.  If you have an unregistered dog now is the time to come in and register it.

For further information please contact the Shire on 08 9047 2100.

Renewal Fees are listed below for your information:

Dog Registration Fees
Annual Registration
Sterilised Dog  1 Year $20.00
3 Years $42.50
Lifetime $100.00
Unsterilised Dog 1 Year $50.00
3 Years $120.00
Lifetime $250.00
Concession Registration Rates
Guide Dogs Nil
Dogs used for droving or tending stock ¼ of fee payable
Dogs owned by pensioners ½ of fee payable
Registration after May 31st in any year ½ of fee payable

Dogs in public places

Dogs must be held by a leash in all public places, unless in approved dog exercise areas.

Dog exercise area

Dangerous Dogs

The following dog breeds are deemed to be dangerous:

  • Argentinian fighting dogs
  • Brazilian fighting dogs
  • Japanese tosas
  • American pit bull terriers
  • Pit bull terrier breeds
  • Any dog of a mixed breed that visibly contains any of the above named breeds

Owners of dangerous dogs MUST:

  • Display the dangerous dog sign on all entrances to their property
  • Have a dangerous dog collar on their animal at all times
  • Muzzle and leash dogs when outside their property
  • Be over 18 years of age

Wandering at Large

The Council may seize dogs found in public places and not held on a leash.

Rangers may enter private property to seize a dog which has been wandering at large if they have the permission of the owner or occupier, or a warrant.

Fines & Penalties

On the Spot Fines

  • Permitting a dog to be in a public place not held on a leash - $100
  • Owner's name and address not on the collar - $50
  • Permitting a dog to be in a public place without registration tag - $50
  • Having an unregistered dog - $100

Offences and Maximum Penalties

  • Allowing a dog to be in a public place whilst not on a leash - $1,000
  • If a dog attacks a person, animal or bird - $10,000
  • Allowing a dog to be a nuisance - $2,000
  • Keeping more than the legal number of dogs - $1,000
  • Having an unregistered dog - $500

Attack by a Dog

If your dog attacks a person or animal, then you may be responsible for any injury or damage caused. If your dog attacked outside your property you may:

  • Be ordered to take additional steps to control your dog (such as fencing your property effectively)
  • Have your dog declared "dangerous" (if this occurs, your dog must be restrained when on your own land, you must erect clearly visible 'Warning Dangerous Dog' signs outside your property and leash your dog at all times outside your property)
  • Be ordered to have your dog destroyed

A dog attack can mean anything from a person or animal being chased and growled at, through to physical contact resulting in an injury or death to a person or animal. All attacks should be reported to the Shire Ranger. All complaints are confidential.

Noise Control Act

This Act applies to dogs under the Act, an owner may be fined if a dog makes excessive noise. If you have a problem with your pet's barking, please contact your local vet and seek advice on how to eliminate the problem.

Neighbours are encouraged to speak to dog owners if they are concerned about excessive barking (a nuisance).  We know that barking dogs can be quite disturbing, however sometimes our neighbours might not be aware of this, especially if it happens while they are out.

Dog Surrender/Destruction

If for a legitimate reason a dog owner can no longer keep their dog, it may be surrendered to the Ranger. The owner must complete a "Destruction of a Dog Authority" form. Once finalised, the owner no longer has any legal standing in relation to this dog.

Cat Registrations  Cat registration

The purpose of the Cat Act 2011 is to introduce measures to: reduce the large number of stray cats being euthanised each year; encourage responsible cat ownership; and provide for better management of the unwanted impacts of cats on the community and environment.

Registering your cat is compulsory and the following rules set out in the Cat Act must be followed:

  • All cats over six months of age must be registered with the local government area where they are usually kept;
  • All cats must be microchipped and sterilised before transfer

Renewal Fees are listed below for your information:

Cat Registration Fees
Annual Registration
Annual cat registration for 1 Year $20.00
3 Years $42.50
Lifetime $100.00
Concession Registration Rates
Cats owned by pensioners ½ of fee payable
Registration after May 31st in any year ½ of fee payable
Other Registration Rates
Annual Fee for an approved cat breeder $100.00

For more information contact the Shire on 08 9047 2100 or send an email to admin@mukinbudin.wa.gov.au.

Nuisance cats and traps

To ensure your cat does not become a nuisance to your neighbours or harms wildlife, the following tips are suggested for responsible cat owners:

  • The cat remains on your property.
  • The cat wears a collar with name, contact number and registration tag.
  • Your cat is kept inside at night.

If you are experiencing a nuisance cat, traps are available for hire from the Shire. Rangers will collect a cat from a resident if the animal has been captured and remains in the trap.

All impounded cats are checked for registration tags and scanned for microchipping details. If the owner can be readily identified Rangers will make contact with them to advise how and where to collect their cat.

All domesticated cats that are identifiable and the owner is known will be returned to the owner.  If the cat is not claimed after seven days, the cat may be rehomed. If the owner of the cat is not known, after a period of three days, the cat may be rehomed.

Wandering livestock

Owners of livestock are responsible for ensuring their animals are kept within property boundaries and that fences and gates are properly maintained.

Livestock owners may be liable for any damages caused by wandering livestock.

Impounded livestock will incur poundage fees and a possible infringement.

To report wandering livestock or to enquire about impounded animals, please contact us.

Keeping of Poultry

Poultry includes fowls (ie. chickens, hens, chooks), peacocks, turkeys, geese and ducks.

If you wish to keep poultry on your property, it is important that you are aware of the type of poultry you can keep, the number of poultry allowed and enclosure conditions.

Number and types of poultry allowed

As a general rule, you may keep up to 12 permitted poultry on your property.

  • Poultry permitted: Ducks and fowls (also known as chooks, chickens and hens)
  • Poultry not permitted: Roosters, turkeys, geese, peacocks and peahens.

Approval is not required for permitted poultry.

Poultry enclosure conditions

Enclosures conditions are as follows:

  • Poultry must not come within 15 metres of a dwelling house, public building or premise where people are employed or where food is stored, prepared, manufactured or sold.
  • Poultry must not be able to approach with 18 metres of a street, other than a right of way (unless, in the case of land at the junctions of two or more streets)
  • The enclosure is maintain and kept clean at all times and shell be disinfected
  • The storage of poultry food is stored in rodent proof containers.

If the enclosure does not comply with the above conditions, the Shire of Mukinbudin may give directions to the owner or occupier to modify, repair or clean the enclosure.