Dog Attacks Who is Responsible and How Can They be Prevented. ABC News 17/10/25

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-17/dog-attacks-who-is-responsible-explainer/105884928

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Queensland has some of the stupidest dog legislation in the country. Basically any tan or solidly built bull-breed mix can be "identified" by a council ranger as a "pitbull" and declared "dangerous" or "restricted", regardless if it has displayed any adverse behaviours or not. Moreton Bay Council is also one of the least dog-friendly councils in the country, so shouldn't be held in any level of comparison to elsewhere in Australia.

 

It beggars belief that Moreton Bay council has registered 269 dogs as "dangerous" or "menacing". I'll bet that most of those have never had an incident recorded against them, but have been "identified" by council as restricted/banned breeds/mixes based only on physical appearance. 

 

Interestingly, the number of reported dog attacks in the Moreton Bay LGA has risen sharply since council started restricting where and when dogs could be away from their own properties, and running around "identifying" all manner of perfectly sociable dogs as "dangerous" based on colour/build alone. Is it any wonder that dogs are becoming less sociable when the restrictions imposed have reduced the opportunities for dogs to be out and about learning how to be social in the community?

 

Quite frankly, articles like this only highlight that legislation isn't working to reduce issues, but in reality, it may actually be making the problems worse. What is actually required is a concerted effort to effectively educate pet owners about their responsibilities, and giving dogs more ways to learn and build their social skills in the community. Unfortunately, education that isn't simply whacking some words onto a buried council webpage that residents can't easily find just won't cut it. What is required is actual targetted face to face information sessions, and/or printed material letterbox drops to keep residents informed of their pet ownership responsibilities, and support for training and socialisation of dogs in order for them to safely be able to be part of the community. Unfortunately, it costs more money to do the right and required thing than it does to simply enact more restrictive legislation... *sigh*

 

T.