The Companion Animals Act 1998 defines the roles and responsibilities of pet owners in NSW.
This legislation describes companion animals as assistance animals, pet dogs and cats. In other words, they are those dogs and cats that we keep for pleasure or to help us perform tasks in our daily life.
What are my responsibilities as a responsible pet owner
All animal owners have a responsibility to ensure that their companion animal is healthy, safe, well cared for and is not a nuisance in the neighbourhood.
The Companion Animals Act 1998 and associated Regulations also provide guidelines on responsible pet ownership that must be followed.
These include:
- always walk your dog on a lead, especially in public places
- remove your animal’s faeces from public places
- do not allow your dog to attack another person or animal
- ensure that your companion animal is identified by a permanent microchip and registered
Companion animals are prohibited from:
- food preparation and consumption areas (this includes restaurants, cafes and outside eating areas)
- animal wildlife areas (such as National Parks and other protected sites)