New South Wales Consolidated Acts

COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 17

17 Dog must not be encouraged to attack

(1) A person who sets on or urges a dog to attack, bite, harass or chase any person or animal (other than vermin) is guilty of an offence, whether or not actual injury is caused.

Maximum penalty:

(a) 20 penalty units except in the case of a dangerous or restricted dog, or

(b) 100 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment, or both, in the case of a dangerous or restricted dog (except in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (c)), or

(c) 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both, in the case of a dangerous or restricted dog that has attacked or bitten a person.

Note: If the dog is a dangerous dog or a restricted dog, conviction for an offence under this section results in permanent disqualification from owning a dog or from being in charge of a dog in a public place. See section 23.

(2) This section does not apply to something done by a person:

(a) in the reasonable defence of a person or property,

(b) in the proper performance of the person’s duties as a police officer,

(c) in the course of the use of a dog for the working of stock or the training of a dog in the working of stock,

(d) in the course of lawful hunting.