Explained: SA’s new pet management laws include steep penalties for dog attacks and give councils powers to stop barking

SA councils are being handed more power to stop nuisance barking including steep new fines in move that is being described as “a double-edged sword”.

Dog behavioural specialist from SitStayDrop George Lygidakis with Grayson a 13 month old Hungarian Vizsla. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Local councils in South Australia are being handed more power to act on nuisance dog barking in a suite of laws that also increase fines for dog attacks and outlaw puppy farms.

The state government last month passed legislation introducing a court penalty of up to $2500 for owners of nuisance barkers, following a council-issued order.

Councils can issue the order mandating owners take “all reasonable steps” – including putting pets through an approved training course – to stop the behaviour when the dog creates “an unreasonable amount of noise by barking”.

Environment Minister Susan Close said the present order could be difficult to apply if there were two or more dogs on a property.

Environment Minister Susan Close. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

She said that under the new order, councils no longer needed to identify which dog was barking, and it would be binding on all occupiers of a premises if the owner could not be determined.

Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley said introducing a significant fine made nuisance barking “much more an action which staff need to take more seriously”.

“If there’s a serious consequence, then staff are more likely to take it seriously,” he said.

“It also ensures there’s a bit of a responsibility put back on the owner to ensure their animals are well behaved.

“If you live in a small property with a very noisy dog, it can be very disruptive to all your neighbours around you, and have an impact on the quality of their lives.”

Dog trainer George Lygidakis said he felt stronger measures for councils to act on nuisance dog barking were “a double-edged sword”.

Dog behavioural specialist from SitStayDrop George Lygidakis says stronger measures for councils are “a double-edged sword”. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“You want to give the council power when it’s absolutely necessary, but I’m also seeing painful neighbours who are over-the-top and they can cause a lot of distress for dog owners,” he said.

“Barking issues often can be quite complex. Sometimes they’re easy to manage; other times when there’s separation anxiety, which is the big one, it can take a bit longer to really adjust the relationship and overcome that.”

Under the laws, which are yet to come into effect, dog owners face a maximum fine of $25,000 if their pet attacks a person or animal causing serious injury or death.

If the pet was already the subject of a dangerous dog order, the fine will be up to $50,000 and in cases where an owner deliberately incited an attack, it could carry four years’ jail and a fine of up to $100,000.

Large-scale puppy farms have been banned under the laws, which also introduce stricter rules for dog breeding to prevent cruelty, including a more rigorous assessment process for breeders and fines of up to $10,000 for breeding animals without a licence.