The City of Ballarat takes a zero-tolerance stance against dog attacks, with one attack reported, on average, every day in the municipality.

Enforcement action may result in fines, the seizure, surrender and euthanising of dogs, and criminal proceedings in the Ballarat Magistrates Court against the owner of the dog, or the person in control of the dog at the time of the attack.

In the past three months, Council has successfully prosecuted several matters in court, which included three search warrants to enter premises to seize dogs involved in alleged dog attacks.

Two recent court matters also saw two banning orders being handed down preventing two women from owning or being in care of a dog, as well as fines, penalties and compensation costs.

Responsible pet ownership includes:

Fencing your property properly, as many attacks are from dogs biting people through fences or jumping fences

Making sure your is dog registered

When your dog is out in public, making sure it is on a lead.

You should only let your dog off its leash in dog off leash areas which include:

Charles Edward Brown Reserve (North West corner opposite Netball Centre) at 238 Dowling Street, Wendouree

Pioneer Park at 5 McKenzie Drive, Wendouree

Cuthberts Road Reserve at 164A Cuthberts Road, Alfredton

Victoria Park at Russell Street, Newington

Gregory St Reserve at 514 and 520 Gregory Street, Soldiers Hill

Chisholm Reserve at CA 13A Chisholm Street, Black Hill

Birdwood Park at CA 72A Midland Highway, Buninyong

M R Power Reserve at 182-198 Grant Street, Sebastopol

Canadian Lakes Reserve at 815 Geelong Road, Canadian (off Canadian Lakes Boulevard)