Better protection against dog attack under changed Dog Act

16/9/96

People who suffer injury or property loss due to a dog attack will have greater ability to claim compensation in the civil courts, under changes to the Dog Act which came into effect this week.

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said that where the Dog Act previously said a dog's owner 'may be liable' in damages for injury done, it now said the owner 'shall be liable', subject to any contributory negligence.

"This is a much stronger provision, which will greatly assist people seeking compensation for damage caused in a dog attack," Mr Omodei said.

"It includes damages for injury to a person or other animal and damage to a person's property.

"While attacks on people, particularly young children, are a prime concern, there have also been shocking cases where roaming dogs have savaged livestock, particularly sheep and goats, causing horrific injuries and substantial losses.

"As long as the dogs can be identified, the victim will now have much better recourse to claim damages against the owner."

Mr Omodei said the Government's tough new penalties for dog attacks should also reduce the number of attacks as dog owners realised they faced fines of up to $10,000.

"I believe people will think twice about letting their dogs run loose when they understand they can be fined up to $10,000 if the dog is involved in an attack," he said.

"This includes attacks on people and on other animals."

Mr Omodei said the previous maximum penalty of $1,000 had been hopelessly inadequate as a deterrent for irresponsible dog owners.

"If the severity of the case was not judged to be at the upper end of the scale, the dog's owner might get off with a fine of just a few hundred dollars despite the trauma the dog has caused," he said.

"If the same person is looking at paying out thousands of dollars in fines and substantial damages as well, I have no doubt they will take their responsibilities more seriously and keep their dogs confined on their property or on a leash in public."

Media contact: Amanda O'Brien (09) 222 9595