As we head into a dry and hot summer, learn how to keep you and your family safe
In This Section
Sometimes animals can cause a problem. When you’re impacted by a barking dog or nuisance animals you can lodge a complaint with us.
To find out more, choose a topic below:
If you are affected by the noise from your neighbour’s dog or are the owner of a barking dog, go to our Barking Dog page.
If you have been involved in a dog attack or been threatened by a dog make a note of the:
Report online
Visit the NSW Office of Local Government for more information on reporting dog attacks.
Contact your local police station. Police have the same powers to act as Council Rangers.
If you find a stray, roaming or nuisance dog make a note of the:
Report Online
If there is no identification the animal will be taken to the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter.
OR
Take the animal to the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter.
It is an offence to keep an animal that does not belong to you (Companion Animals Act 1998)
We encourage cat owners to keep their cat indoors or in an enclosure outside to keep them safe and to protect wildlife.
There is no definition for a stray cat and no restrictions on cats roaming other than in prohibited wildlife areas and food preparation or food consumption areas.
If you would like more information, see Companion Animals Act 1998.
You can hire a cat trap from the Shoalhaven Animal Shelter if a cat is:
Let us know if cat is causing a nuisance, has been trapped or if you have found a cat that looks lost or homeless.
'Roaming cats in your neighbourhood' flyers are also available to encourage responsible cat ownership. If you would like to do a letterbox drop in your neighbourhood, contact us to arrange postage of flyers to you directly.
If the cat is microchipped, the owner can be contacted and education can be provided to the owner about the impacts of roaming cats.
Refer to Section 32 of the Companion Animals Act 1998.
Nothing in Section 32 authorises any variation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1998.
A cat must wear a collar and tag with the cat owner's address and telephone number.
Chickens, birds, turkeys, ducks, and geese can be kept on private property, housed and kept properly to comply with regulations. Roosters should not be kept in residential areas.
Let us know if you are concerned about the way chickens or birds are being kept.
For more details see our Keeping Animals page.
Horses, cattle, roosters and pigs should not be kept in residential areas.
Let us know if you have a concern about the keeping of these animals at a residential address
If your neighbour's livestock enters your property it is a civil matter between you and your neighbour. Refer to Sections 23 and 24 of Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 for more information
Let us know if you see horses, cows, sheep, pigs or goats roaming on public land.
We encourage responsible pet ownership, so pets are taken care of properly and don’t cause problems for other people and animals in our community.
Ranger Services