Notice of amendment to Litchfield Council Rural Dog Management By-laws - Public Comments closed Thursday 10th April 2014.
Litchfield Council intends to repeal the existing Litchfield Council Rural Dog Management By-laws (through the Litchfield Council Rural Dog Management (Repealing) By-laws ("the Repealing By-laws)) and to enact an amended form of the Litchfield Council Rural Dog Management By-laws ("the By-laws").
The purpose of the proposed new Litchfield Council Rural Dog Management By-laws ("the By-laws") is "to provide for the keeping of dogs as companion animals within the municipality in a manner which is compatible with the enjoyment of residents in a congenial rural environment"(and to regulate incidental matters).
Litchfield Council has considered the purpose of the By-laws and the amendments required to ensure Litchfield Council is meeting the expectations of the community. The changes proposed by the draft By-laws are changes intended to encourage responsible dog ownership and meet the expectations of the community by providing appropriate powers for the enforcement of the By-laws within the municipality. The substantial changes proposed by the draft By-laws, as compared to the existing by-laws, are found at the sections of the By-laws listed below:
- # - Substantially retaining the existing by-laws subject to the amendments referred to below;
- # - Removing references to "registration" of dogs throughout all By-laws (eg 3, 21, 29);
- # - Specifying that offences are regulatory offences throughout the By-laws (eg 25, 28);
- # - Stylistic and grammatical amendments throughout the By-laws;
- 3 & 18 - Minor changes to definitions (eg the definition of "vehicle" and "public place");
- 20 - Clarifying owners' responsibilities for microchipping;
- 21 & 22 - Clarifying nature of information to be provided to Council;
- 24 & 25 - Clarifying offences regarding dog restriction areas and exercise areas;
- 27 - Consolidation and clarification of defences and exemptions;
- 33 - Extending scope of attacking offence to include "menacing";
- 35 - Creating defence to defecation provisions if faeces immediately removed;
- 39 - Clarifying conditions for seizure and requirement for written consent of landowners for dog traps;
- 43 - Allowing kennel manager to order destruction of dogs and removing authority to sell/dispose of dogs on behalf of welfare groups;
- Schedule - Specifying penalties for offences.
To inspect a hardcopy of the proposed By-laws and the Repealing By-laws please attend at Council's office located at 7 Bees Creek Road, Freds Pass NT 0822, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). An electronic copy of the proposed By-laws and the Repealing By-laws are below.
Litchfield Council welcomes your written feedback sent to:
Email: council@lsc.nt.gov.au
Postal Address: Litchfield Council
PO Box 446
Humpty Doo NT 0836
Feedback must be provided to the Council by close of business on Thursday 10th April 2014.