Dangerous dogs to cost $600 each to register on Fraser Coast

A Maryborough man who has two dogs that have been declared dangerous may be forced to have them put down due to the expense of registering the animals.

The cost of registering his two dogs, declared dangerous by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, may force a Maryborough man to have them put down.

Daniel Kliendienst will have to pay $1200 to register his dogs, which were placed in the council’s regulated category after they escaped from their home last year and attacked a smaller dog.

Mr Kliendienst said he had owned one of the dogs for seven years and the other for four.

One is a Great Dane cross bulldog and the other a cattle dog cross.

They were beloved family dogs that his children were very attached to, he said.

On the day of the attack, the dogs bit a small Maltese terrier that was being walked nearby.

The dog needed stitches, but survived.

Although they have been declared dangerous by the council, the dogs are much-loved family pets.

Mr Kliendienst’s dogs were impounded for three days before being released back to him after being classified as dangerous dogs.

That meant the fence around Mr Kliendienst’s property had to reach six feet to ensure the dogs were contained.

He estimates he spent about $1200 to do that.

Now he faces paying $1200 every year, $600 for each dog.

He was initially told the cost would be $350 per dog, so the added amount came as a shock.

Mr Kliendienst said neither dog had escaped since he’d put up the new fencing.

He said he was concerned that he would face putting the dogs down or the dogs being destroyed by the council if he couldn’t pay the amount.

Daniel Kliendienst will have to pay $1200 to register his dogs, which were placed in the council's regulated category after they escaped from their home last year and attacked a smaller dog.

At the region’s neighbouring councils, the cost of registering dangerous dogs is cheaper.

In Bundaberg, the amount of $600 can be reduced to $300 of registration is paid on time and there are no further incidents.

In Gympie, the amount per dog for a regulated animal is $438.

In Brisbane the initial cost is $592.65 but drops to $124.75 for a regulated dog when the owner is shown to be compliant.

Fraser Coast Councillor Paul Truscott responded, saying the regulated dog fee was not the same thing as dog registration.

“It is a permit so that you are able to keep your dangerous dogs, subject to set conditions which are designed to keep the community safe,” he said.

Daniel Kliendienst will have to pay $1200 to register his dogs, which were placed in the council's regulated category after they escaped from their home last year and attacked a smaller dog.

He said the dangerous dogs classification resulted in extra administration and physical work for the council above that of a normal dog registration.

“This may include in some cases multiple inspections and drive-bys to check on compliance,” he said.

He said the permit was based on the council’s cost recovery and the cost was reviewed annually against the charge.

Cr Truscott said there were few dangerous dogs registered on the Fraser Coast.

“I believe the increase this year is likely as a result of councillors requesting stronger compliance checks and a higher service level, after the recent dog attack that resulted in a fatality.

“It may seem a lot and to me it would too, but the community expects us to do all we can to keep people safe from dogs that may pose a threat to safety.”

Maryborough was rocked earlier this year when three dogs attacked and killed Amanda Carmichael in Milton Street.

The dogs involved in the attack were destroyed.