Animal Control

Council Rangers

Council Rangers can be contacted using the details below.

After-hours Ranger Service:

The Shire of York provides an after-hours ranger service between the hours of 5.30 pm and 8.30 am week days and each weekend between 5.30 pm on Friday and until 8.30 am the following Monday.

All after-hours calls will be returned.

The after-hours ranger will respond to the following:

• Stock on road
• Dog attacks in progress
• Any stray dog confined by or held by a person will be picked up as soon as possible

Please call 000 for all other emergencies.

Animal Management Facility (Pound)

Council has an Animal Management Facility (Pound) located at Council's Depot. For enquiries relating to dogs in the pound please contact Council's Ranger.

If your dog/cat is missing it may have been impounded. You can check by contacting the Shire Ranger on 9641 2489 or 0417 181 349.

Collection of dogs/cats is strictly by appointment with the Shire Ranger and remember that before a dog/cat can be released from the pound it must be micro-chipped, sterilised and registered. You will be required to provide proof that you are either its owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner.

Ranger Services

The Ranger is responsible for the enforcement of State Government Legislation and Local Laws which include the following:

• Dog Complaints.
• Cat Complaints.
• Straying stock on roads. The Ranger continually monitors fences along roads and issues notices to repair where the fences were found to be in disrepair.
• Fire prevention including firebreak inspections.
• Parking.
• Litter control.
• Off Road Vehicles.
• Abandoned vehicle.

Dog Licences/Registration

All dogs over the age of three months must be registered with the Shire. Registration expires on the 31st of October each year. You may choose to licence your pooch for one year or three years. Proof of sterilisation is required at the time of registration in order to qualify for the discounted rates.

Microchipping has been introduced for all dogs over the age of three months:

Proof of microchipping is required at the time of registration

It is your responsibility to notify Council immediately of any changes to your Dog Registration details, eg sale or death of dog and change of owner's address etc.

Working farm dogs are eligible for a further discount of 25% of the above fees. Pensioner concessions available please enquire at the office.

All dog owners are required by law under the Dog Act 1976 to:

• Microchip any dog over the age of three months.
• Register any dog over the age of three months. To own unregistered dogs is an offence. (Penalty $200)
• Ensure that any dog is effectively confined to their property by way of suitable fencing, not permanent tethering.
• Leash their dog at all times in public places, with the exception of the York Dog Exercise Area which is located on the corner of Thorn St and Stephen St behind the York Coffee Carriage. The second is adjacent to Candice Bateman Park between Newcastle Street and Cardwell Street. 
• Dogs must not create a nuisance to other residents by nuisance barking.

Please note that keeping more than two dogs within the York Town site or more than four dogs outside the York Town site requires approval from the Shire Ranger.

Download Dog Registration Form

Please email completed form along with proof of microchipping and sterilisation to records@york.wa.gov.au

Dog poo in any place is not only offensive in smell and appearance, but carries a huge risk of disease and infection.

Dog poo can infect people (especially children) with:

• Worms from contact with the egg
• Bacterial infections
• Protozoan infections (germs that breed in moisture.

All cause significant illness.

Diseases your dog or others can contract are:

• Canine parvovirus
• Canine hepatitis
• Distemper
• Canine gastroenteritis
• Bacterial and viral infections

Most are highly contagious and often fatal (Especially for pups). If the poo isn’t picked up and breaks down in the soil some of these diseases can be present for up to two years.

According to our Local Law:

A person liable for the control of a dog which excretes on any street or public place or on private property within the district without consent of the occupier commits an offence unless the excreta is removed forthwith .

A $200 fine may be issued

Although cleaning up is not a pleasant task it is preferable to spreading disease or banning dogs from public places.

Poo Bag dispenser Locations:

Poo bag dispensers are located at Avon Park, Peace Park, Monger Reserve Dog Exercise Area and the Candice Bateman Park Exercise Area.  A plastic shopping bag or similar is just as effective.

Keeping & Management Of Dogs

The Department of Local Government website provides a broad range of information about how to be a responsible dog owner.

For information on Restricted Dog breeds please visit the DLG WA website.

If there is a complaint as to a nuisance created by a dog please click here to access the appropriate form.

Cat Licences/Registration

Cat Control

The Cat Act 2011 requires the identification, registration and sterilisation of domestic cats, and gives local governments the power to administer and enforce the legislation. The legislation took effect from 1 November 2013 and provides for the better management of the unwanted impacts of cats on the community and the environment, as well as encourages responsible cat ownership.

All cats that have reached 6 months of age are now required to be:

• Microchipped;
• Sterilised; and
• Registered with the relevant local government.

Cats are required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure that owned cats can be easily identified and returned to their owner.

The Cat Act 2011 Section 27 provides that a cat may be seized in a public place by an authorised person if they suspect it is the subject of an offence under the Act (for example is not registered, microchipped or sterilised).

An authorised person is able to seize a cat on a private premises at the request or with the consent of the owner/occupier of the premises, or a under a Warrant.

Cats impounded must be kept for seven working days if the owner can be identified and three days if the owner is not identified, before either being rehomed or euthanized.

The Shire of York attempts to rehome all impounded cats after the impoundment timeframes have expired.

The Shire of York has entered into an agreement with an animal welfare group who will attempt to rehome all cats after the impoundment expiry timeframes.

The Department of Local Government website also provides a broad range of information about how to be a responsible cat owner.

To download the Cat Registration Form please download it here:

Download Cat Registration Form

Please email completed form along with proof of microchipping and sterilisation to records@york.wa.gov.au