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Dogs in Australia attack many people each year. Ipswich City Council is working hard to reduce this through public education, incidence response, management of dog attacks and programs.

If you or your pet has been attacked by a dog

Contact Ipswich City Council on (07) 3810 6666 to provide as many details as possible including:

  • Date, time and location of attack
  • Description of how the attack occurred
  • Description and location of the attacking dog.

If you have been bitten by a dog, visit a doctor as soon as possible for appropriate treatment.  You may request a written statement from your doctor that your injuries are consistent with a dog bite. You can also take photos of your injuries which may assist with Council's investigation.

If your pet has been attacked, take your pet to the vet so its injuries can be assessed. Sometimes there may be few external signs of injury but internal injuries may have occurred. if in doubt, call your vet for advice.

Council's role

Once Council has received a report of an attack, an Animal Management Officer will conduct an investigation with a focus on maintaining the safety and protection of the community. The officer will communicate and work with both the dog owner and person impacted. Depending on the incident, the dog owner may be issued fines, warnings, or the dog could be declared a dangerous or menacing dog. In a small number of cases, if the incident is serious enough, Council may seek the destruction of the dog/s.

The laws that apply to aggressive dogs and dog attacks include:

Note that Council is not responsible for expenses related to a dog attack. These are a civil matter and are between the parties involved.

What is a declared dangerous dog?

Council can declare a dangerous dog if the dog:

  • Has seriously attacked, or acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal
  • In the opinion of an authorised person and based on the dog's behaviour, it may seriously attack or act in a way that causes fear to a person or another animal.

Note: Different requirements for keeping dangerous dogs apply. Please refer to the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Regulation 2009 for further information.

What is a declared menacing dog?

Council can declare a dog menacing if:

  • The dog attack was not serious but the dog acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal
  • In the opinion of an authorised person and based on the dog's behaviour, it may seriously attack or act in a way that causes fear to a person or another animal.

Note: different requirements for keeping menacing dogs apply. Please refer to the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Regulation 2009 for further information.

This declaration of a dangerous or menacing dog will mean higher registration fees and restrictions on the keeping of the animal.

How can you identify a dangerous or menacing dog?

To help keep the community safe, regulated dogs must wear a specific type of distinctive red and yellow striped collar. If you see a wandering dog wearing a red and yellow striped collar, contact Council on (07) 3810 6666.

Regulated dog collar

Restricted dogs

The following dog breeds are restricted (including cross breeds) and prohibited in the Ipswich City Council area under Local Law No. 6 (Animal Management) 2013:

  • American Pit Bull Terrer or Pit Bull Terrier
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario
  • Any other breed determined by Council resolution.

For more information on restricted dogs see:

To report a suspected restricted dog in Ipswich, contact Council on (07) 3810 6666 with details including suspected breed, address and location of the dog.