Animal Control

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Responsible dog ownership

Owning a dog can provide significant benefits to not only to you, but also the community in which you live. Responsible pet ownership is rewarding and the Shire encourages responsible pet ownership including

Keeping your dog under control and out of the pound

Ensure your dog is not able to roam freely. If found roaming, your dog will be impounded, and you will need to contact the Shire Office during working hours or the Duty Ranger. 

Fees are imposed on all impounded animals and are payable to the Shire before the release of the dog. Dogs can be released Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. 

Please call the Ranger Duty phone 9191 3456, 7am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday.

Unidentified Dogs impounded for more than 72 hours may be re-homed or euthanised. Fees apply for impounded dogs, in addition to a daily sustenance fee.  

Please note all dogs are required to be registered with the Shire prior to release.

You can find further information on Impounded Animals here.

Exercise Your Dog

A healthy and fit dog is a happy dog. The Shire provides open spaces for exercising dogs at Cable Beach, Riddell Beach and Entrance Point.

Whilst in these exercise areas, dogs must be under control and the owner or handler must carry a leash. Please note that the Shire Ovals and Recreation Grounds are not dog exercise areas. Dogs are prohibited on Cable Beach between the Surf Club and 1km north of the rocks, the Cable Beach Reserve and Town Beach reserve. If your dog is not in a specified exercise area it must be on a leash at all times. Dog owners must remove any faeces left by the dog. "Poo pouches" are available from the Shire Offices and various exercise areas.

Protect Others from Dog Attacks

Dog attacks are a serious offence carrying with them substantial penalties. Ensure your dog is fully restrained at home and is on a leash and under control at all times when in public.  

Any dog deemed to be a dangerous dog by Shire Rangers are required to adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the safety of the community. Offences under the Dog Act for a Dangerous Dog carry a heavier fines.

Dog Registration

All dogs in Western Australia over the age of three months are required to be registered under the Dog Act 1976. They are to be registered in the local authority area in which they are ordinarily kept.

All new dogs are to be microchipped for the purpose of identification and registration. Proof of microchipping must be provided at time of registration.

The dog registration year runs from November 1 to October 31 and is transferable between local Governments within WA at no cost.

A certificate of microchipping must be provided to enable us to register a new dog. The current fees for a Dog Registration under the Dog Act are:

                                                                 1 Year  3 Years  Lifetime
Unsterilised Dog / Female 
                       $50     $120      $250
Sterilised Dog / Female                             $20     $42.50   $100

One-year registration paid after May 31 (until October 31 that year) is half price. 

To register a new dog to the Shire of Broome, please complete and pay via the New Dog Registration Form. To renew a dog registration, please visit the make a payment page.

Discounts apply for pensioners. 

Microchipping

The Dog Act 1976 and Dog Regulations 1976 require that:

  • All dogs being registered for the first time with the Shire must be microchipped prior to registration.
  • Any dog that is transferred to another owner within the Shire must be microchipped.
  • All dangerous dogs, including restricted breeds and commercial security dogs, must be microchipped.

By 1 November 2015

  • All other dogs already registered with the Shire need to be microchipped.
  • Please contact your local veterinarian or an authorised microchip implanter for costs associated with microchipping.  

Desexing

Pensioners receive a 50% discount. Subsidies are available to pensioners to assist in the sterilisation of a dog or cat. Conditions apply. Contact the Shire offices for further details.

Control Your Dog and Keep it Out of the Pound

Ensure your dog is not able to roam freely. Should it be found roaming, your dog will be impounded. Should you have reason to believe that your dog may have been impounded, contact the Shire Office during working hours or the Duty Ranger.

Fees are imposed on all impounded animals and are payable to the Shire before the release of the dog. Dogs can only be released Monday to Friday during office hours. Dogs impounded for more than 72 hours may be euthanised. Fees apply for impounded dogs, in addition to a daily sustenance fee.

Exercise Your Dog

A healthy and fit dog is a happy dog. The Shire provides open spaces for exercising dogs at Cable Beach, Riddell Beach and Entrance Point.

Whilst in these exercise areas, dogs must be under control and the owner or handler must carry a leash. Please note that the Shire Ovals and Recreation Grounds are not dog exercise areas. Dogs are prohibited on Cable Beach between the Surf Club and 1km north of the rocks, the Cable Beach Reserve and Town Beach. If your dog is not in a specified exercise area it must be on a leash at all times.

Dog owners must remove any faeces left by the dog. "Poo pouches" are available from the Shire Offices and various exercise areas.

Protect Others from Dog Attacks

Dog attacks are a serious offence carrying with them substantial penalties, so please ensure your dog is fully restrained at home and is on a leash at all times when in public.

Responsible cat ownership

Please see sections of the Cat Act 2011, regarding these four requirements.

  • Cats may be seized: An authorised person may — (a) in any public place, seize any cat that the authorised person believes, or suspects, on reasonable grounds is the subject of an offence against this Act; or (b) in any premises lawfully entered by the authorised person, seize any cat — (i) at the request, or with the consent, of the person who is, or appears to be, the owner or occupier of the premises; or (ii) under a warrant issued under Part 4 Division 3 Subdivision 3.
  • Cats to be registered: (1) The owner of a cat that has reached six months of age must ensure that the cat is registered with the local government in whose district the cat is ordinarily kept. Penalty: a fine of $5000. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if — (a) the cat has been kept by the person for less than 14 days; or (b) the person has been resident in the State for less than 14 days; or (c) the cat belongs to a class of cats prescribed as exempt from registration. 6. Cats to wear tags (1) The owner of a registered cat must ensure that when the cat is in a public place the cat is wearing its registration tag. Penalty: a fine of $5000. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the cat belongs to a class of cats prescribed as exempt from wearing registration tags when in a public place. (3) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1) if the accused establishes that — (a) the contravention in respect of which the proceeding was instituted was due to — (i) the act or default of another person; or (ii) an accident; or (iii) some other cause beyond the accused’s control; and (b) the accused took reasonable precautions and could not by the exercise of due diligence have prevented the commission of the offence.
  • Cats to be microchipped: (1) The owner of a cat that has reached 6 months of age must ensure that the cat is microchipped, unless the cat is exempt from microchipping. Penalty: a fine of $5000.
  • Cats to be sterilised: (1) The owner of a cat that has reached 6 months of age must ensure that the cat is sterilised by a veterinarian, unless the cat is exempt from sterilisation. Penalty: a fine of $5000.

All cats in Western Australia over the age of six months are required to be registered under the Cat Act 2011. They are to be registered in the local authority area in which they are ordinarily kept. The cat registration year runs from November 1 to October 31.

All cats must be sterilised and microchipped before registration. Proof of sterilisation and microchipping must be presented with the application.

A 50% rebate is applicable for holders of a pension concession card. 

The current fees for a Cat Registration under the Cat Act are:

                                                                       1 Year  3 Years  Lifetime
Sterilised Cat
                                              $20       $42.50   $100

Application to breed cats - $100 per breeding cat (male or female).

If the cat is already registered in another Shire in Western Australia, they can transfer to Shire of Broome at no cost

Dogs on Cable Beach during Foreshore Redevelopment Works 

The Cable Beach Swimming Reserve Cable Beach from the vehicle ramp near Zanders Restaurant to just south of the Broome Surf Life Saving Club is a Dog-prohibited (banned) area. No dogs are allowed in this area, including dogs on a lead.

Dogs are allowed north of the vehicle ramp/rocks - on lead for the first kilometre.

Access to Cable Beach dog park area South of Broome Surf Life Saving Club

Temporarily the only access is opposite the Cable Beach General Store (Murray Road).

How long will these temporary arrangements be in place?

The Surf Club carpark is expected to remain closed until February 2024.

The path to Cable Beach south of the Surf Club from opposite the Cable Beach General Store (Murray Road) is expected to reopen on November 30.

Click here for more information about disruptions in place during Stage 1 of the Cable Beach Foreshore Redevelopment works. 

Animal Management Plan

The Shire of Broome Animal Management Plan aims to improve responsible pet ownership and clarify relevant regulations, including dog off-lead areas.

The Animal Management Plan seeks to achieve seven objectives:

  1. Improve awareness and understanding of responsible and caring behaviour toward animals.
  2. Increase adoption of responsible pet owner behaviours related to registrations, microchipping, desexing, obedience training, excessive barking, and animal excrement.
  3. Review animal access on local beaches to improve community safety and animal welfare.
  4. Review dog access in local reserves, parks, playgrounds and outdoor sports facilities.
  5. Improve the management of lost, stray and feral dogs and cats.
  6. Minimise domestic animal impact on local wildlife.
  7. Strengthen governance and enforcement.

View the Animal Management Plan