New collar standards make it easier to identify regulated dogs

To keep the community safe, regulated dogs must wear a specific type of distinctive red and yellow striped collar starting in the new year.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said currently regulated dogs had to wear a distinctive collar, but the appearance was not specified and there were inconsistencies across different local government areas.

“From 1 January 2022 all regulated dogs in Queensland must wear a collar that has red and yellow angled reflective stripes,” Mr Furner said.

“We want the same collar worn everywhere, so we all know what to look out for.”

Regulated dogs include restricted breeds, declared dangerous dogs and declared menacing dogs.

Restricted breeds are dog breeds that are not permitted to be imported into Australia. Declared dangerous and menacing dogs are dogs that have been declared by the relevant local council.

Mr Furner said making the distinctive collar mandatory would help promote responsible management of regulated dogs and allow local government officers and community members to quickly identify a regulated dog.

“If you are aware of a regulated dog not wearing a distinctive collar, call your local council and don’t approach the dog,” he said.

The changes followed consultation with local governments in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland.

 For more information visit qld.gov.au/families and search for ‘regulated dogs’.

ENDS

Media contact:           Ron Goodman            0427 781 920

Image of collar for download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cstdryfd9typ2jx/Regulated%20dog%20collars.jpg?dl=0

Background notes:

Dogs of any breed can be declared dangerous or menacing by an authorised local government officer if it:

• has attacked, or acted in a way that caused fear to, a person or another animal
• or may, in the opinion of an authorised person, seriously attack or act in a way that causes fear to a person or animal.

Regulated dogs must be microchipped, wear an identification tag, be kept in an enclosure with a sign displayed, and be kept under effective control (i.e. on a leash being held by a physically capable adult). Declared dangerous dogs and restricted dogs must also be desexed and muzzled in public.

There are five restricted breeds ion Queensland:

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
• Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario

Biosecurity Queensland conducted a statewide survey of local governments on the proposed draft specifications, in partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland and the South East Queensland Regional Animal Management Group.  All parties supported the proposal to prescribe requirements in the Regulation