Animal Nuisances

Dogs may bark for many reasons, but excessive barking can become a nuisance for neighbours.

Before contacting Council, consider speaking with the dog owner, as they may not be aware their dog is causing a problem.

If the barking continues, read the Barking Dog Information Guide for advice on the steps to take before reporting the issue. If you still need assistance, you can report the barking to Council and we'll provide guidance and, where appropriate, investigate the matter.

Related information

Barking Dog booklet(PDF, 192KB)

Report a barking dog

If you have been attacked or rushed by a dog in the City of Maribyrnong, please report the incident to Council as soon as possible.

To help us investigate, record as much information as you can, including:

• the date and time of the incident
• the location
• a description of the dog and its owner (if known)
• photos of any injuries
• copies of any medical or veterinary records.

For urgent matters, call (03) 9688 0200. You can also make a report online.

Some dogs may be declared dangerous, menacing or restricted under Victorian law. These declarations help protect the community and place additional responsibilities on dog owners.

Dangerous dogs

A dog might be declared dangerous if it:

• has seriously injured a person or another animal by biting or attacking
• is kept as a guard dog or has been trained to attack people or animals
• has been declared a dangerous dog by another council

Menacing dogs

A dog might be declared menacing if it:

• has caused a non-serious injury to a person or animal
• has rushed at a person
• has been declared a menacing dog by another council

Restricted breed dogs

Restricted breed dogs can no longer be registered in Victoria. They may only be kept if they were in Victoria before 1 September 2010 and registered before 30 September 2011.

Restricted breed dogs include:

• American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier)
• Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario)
• Dogo Argentino
• Japanese Tosa
• Fila Brasileiro
• dogs that meet the Victorian standard for a restricted breed.

Owners of restricted breed dogs must ensure their dog is:

• desexed
• microchipped
• securely housed
• muzzled and on a lead whenever it is outside the owner's property
• identified by the required warning signs on the property.

Related Information

Find out more information about restricted breed dogs, registration and ownership requirements on Agriculture Victoria website or calling them on 13 61 86.

If you're experiencing an animal nuisance or have concerns about a pet, you can report it to Council.

You can report:

• pets that trespass onto another person's property
• excessive animal noise (including barking dogs)
• owners who do not comply with on and off lead requirements
• owners who do not clean up after their dog
• owners who do not comply with domestic animal restrictions
• concerns about animal welfare
• people feeding or encouraging feral or stray animals.

If an animal has injured a person or another animal, or poses an immediate risk to public safety, report it to Council as soon as possible. For more information, see Dog Attacks & Rushes.

Before you make a report

To help us investigate, include as much information as possible, including:

a description of the animal (breed, colour and any distinguishing features, if known)

• what happened
• the date, time and duration of the incident
• the location the owner's name and address (if known)
• any injuries or other relevant circumstances.

For wildlife issues, contact the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on 13 61 86.

Report a nuisance

For urgent matters, call (03) 9688 0200. You can also make a report online.

Council aims to remove deceased animals from public places, including roads, parks and shopping areas, within 24 hours of receiving a report.

If the deceased animal is a dog or cat, an Animal Management Officer will check for identification, such as a registration tag or microchip, and make every effort to notify the owner.

Council does not remove deceased animals from private property.

Report a deceased animal

For urgent matters, call (03) 9688 0200. You can also make a request online.