Councils rack up millions in legal and other costs amid dangerous dog ‘lawfare’ LGAQ warns

Queensland ratepayers are being “held to ransom” and ultimately forced to foot enormous legal bills racked up by irresponsible dog owners, the peak body representing councils has warned.

Queensland ratepayers are being “held to ransom” and ultimately forced to foot enormous legal bills racked up by irresponsible dog owners dragging legal cases through the courts, the peak body representing councils has warned.

The Local Government Association of Queensland warned current laws allow owners of dangerous dogs to drag out the case in courts, in a move that ultimately hurts ratepayers.

It includes the case of an unnamed council racking up more than $1m in legal bills and other costs when a dog owner attempted to keep their hound from the gallows after it escaped the yard and launched a series of attacks.

The dog injured a jogger in the street, spent three years behind bars (at the pound) and failed every behaviour test and was found to have “profound” predatory aggression.

In another case a council incurred a $50,000 legal bill and $32,000 in other costs after the owner of two dogs seized after savagely attacking and killing a neighbouring dog launched an appeal in the courts with the pooches ultimately spending 3.5 years behind bars.

The LGAQ is pushing for the state government to get tough on irresponsible owners, and welcomed the ongoing review of laws to streamline the process and introduce tougher penalties.

LGAQ chief executive Alison Smith said councils didn’t have the option of releasing the animals and they were dangerous and posed the risk of attacking – and potentially killing – again if allowed back out on the streets.

CEO of Local Government Association Alison Smith. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The current system allows irresponsible owners to drag out the court process and rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars that their neighbours ultimately have to pay for through their council rates. It’s not fair, when most dog owners do the right thing,” she said.

“Councils don’t take seizing animals lightly. The current system allows owners to launch endless appeals, in which no one wins. We need a swift, streamlined and humane process that properly protects the community without the future of these animals being tied up in lawfare in the courts.”

RSPCA inspectorate and rescue general manager Rachel Woodrow said dogs shouldn’t have to languish in pounds while awaiting a protracted legal process.

The state government in June released a discussion paper on proposed stronger dog laws, with the community encouraged to have their say before August 24.

Proposed changes include banning restricted dog breeds, tougher penalties for dangerous dog owners, and limiting when owners can appeal court decisions on the euthanising of an offending animal.

Earlier this year five Queenslanders were injured in separate dog attacks in less than a week, while a horrific attack in Logan late in 2022 led to the death of Energex meter reader Kane Minion.