Western Downs Regional Council (qld) Kennel Laws

[BULLDOG PATRON]

Hello Friends,

As a long time reader I wish my first post had not been under such terrible circumstances but I guess life wouldn't be interesting if it were easy.

I am trying to move to the Chinchilla or Miles region of South West Queensland and both of these areas fall into the realm of the Western Downs Regional Council, formerly the Dalby Regional Council, and it's breeders in this area whose help I need.

In a normal circumstance you are only allowed 2 dogs per lot, which is fine and standard practice is far as I know, however I was informed today via the Council's animal control officer that the only way to keep more than two dogs is to apply through town planning for a kennel licence, which would allow you to keep a maximum of four adult dogs and any number of puppies up to 12 weeks of age. I queried if 4 dogs was the maximum and she seemed certain that was the case regardless of area zoning or the size of your property.

So my question to the forum is can anyone confirm or deny this ridiculous council law? Because if 4 dogs is the maximum a move to anywhere in the WDRC is out.

[Jed]

I am not sure what the laws in that shire are now, but they used to be 4 dogs, no matter what size block. It's rather silly, particularly in an area like that. There used to be a breeder in Miles with about 15 dogs, on a couple of acres on the outskirts of town - but she may not have had a permit at all. Previous councils probably weren't too rigorous about inspections, and they probably didn't have too many ACO's, so the laws weren't policed very well. Read "if the dogs weren't causing a problem, no one cared, and there were probably umpteen working dogs on properties anyhow"

Some smaller (rural) shires on the Darling Downs didn't mind how many dogs you had, as long as you were "rural" which would be a couple of acres+. No need for permits, or registration. However, now they have all been rolled in with Toowoomba, I suppose the laws are different, and not so easy on breeders.

We have a couple of posters who live in that area, and breed, but I believe they only have a few dogs. They may reply in due course.

Moreton Bay Regional Council had the same laws but following amalgamation, and discussions with DogsQld (you go, guys), you may now apply for either a kennel license, or a breeder's permit, up to 19 dogs, I believe. Information on the council website is non existent, so I do not know how much land you need, but I know you can have 10 with a permit on 2 acres.

Not that the above helps you much. If you want to move to another place, maybe check there. Does seem rather restrictive - but the state government has enacted the laws, and councils are following them - except where they are making exceptions for registered breeders.