Keeping Conditions

As the keeper/owner of a pet, you are obliged to keep and maintain your pets in a responsible manner so as same do not cause nuisance, annoyance or injury to your neighbour or the public at large.
Council’s local laws specify minimum requirements and standards for the keeping of animals designed at avoiding annoyance or nuisance.
Keeping conditions include:-

• any land, enclosure or building in which an animal is kept must be kept in compliance with the Public Health Act 2005 (Part 1A, Division 2 and 3); and
• an enclosure in which an animal is kept must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, in good repair and appearance, and free from flies, rats, other vermin and offensive odours; and
• an enclosure in which an animal is kept must be built and maintained in such a way as to prevent the animal from escape and injury to the animal; and
• an enclosure must provide adequate space for any animal to be kept therein; and
• the keeper of the animal must thoroughly clean the enclosure every day of manure and offensive matter produced by the animal on the premises and such manure and other offensive matter shall be placed into a wet-proof receptacle approved by an authorised person; and
• all receptacles are to be covered at all times and their contents shall be removed every second day, or more often if directed by an authorised person, and then disposed of in such a manner so as not to be a nuisance or prejudicial to health; and
• animals must be provided with and have access to adequate shelter, clean drinking water and appropriate food to maintain the animals’ good health; and
• an enclosure in which an animal is kept must be effectively treated with insecticide at least once per year; and,
• the keeper must comply with any obligations imposed under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 in relation to the keeping of animals.

There are more specific keeping conditions for animals such as horses, cattle, goats etc.  Further information can be obtained from Council’s Local Laws.