A NSW Government website

Penalties for restricted dogs

If you do not follow the control requirements for your restricted dog:

  • you may have to pay large penalties
  • you may face a prison sentence
  • your dog may be seized and destroyed.

For more information, please contact your local council, or refer to the Companion Animal Regulations 2018, and the Companion Animals Act 1998

Offence under Companion Animals Act 1998 Prison sentence?Maximum penalty amount
Restricted dog rushes at/attacks/harasses/chases person or animalNo400 penalty units/$44,000
Restricted dog rushes at/attacks/harasses/chases person or animal because the dog’s owner or another person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack behaved recklessly or did not do something4 years and/or penalty500 units/$55,000
Restricted dog attacks or bites a person because the owner did not comply with control requirements5 years (and permanent disqualification from owning a dog or being in charge of a dog in a public place in NSW)700 penalty units/$77,000
Owner did not comply with control requirements for a restricted dogNo150 penalty units/$16,500 
Owner does not have a valid annual permit for a restricted dogNo60 penalty units/$6,600
Selling a restricted dog or advertising it for saleNo150 penalty units/$16,500
Accepting ownership of a restricted dogNo150 penalty units/$16,500
Breeding a restricted dog, or advertising it as available to breedNo150 penalty units/$16,500
Encouraging a restricted dog to attack a person or animal5 years (and permanent disqualification from owning a dog or from being in charge of a dog in NSW)700 penalty units/$77,000