Animal Control

  • All dogs and cats over 3 months of age are required to be registered annually. A separate annual registration permit is required for dogs and cats that have not been desexed. It is unlawful to keep entire dogs without the permit. 
  • It is also mandatory that any dogs or cats born after 2010 are microchipped. If you buy or sell a cat or dog it must be microchipped before the sale. Microchipping can only be done by a vet.
  • An annual permit is required to keep more than two dogs on a property. Only 2 cats over 3 months of age are allowed per property. 
  • If a dog is found to be roaming in public places without being on a lead or under effective control, it may be impounded and charges will apply before release.

Animal Registration

Pet Registration Form(PDF, 28KB)  Pet Ownership Requirements(PDF, 163KB)

 

Impounded Animals

Currently Impounded Animals

 

Wandering Dogs

Torres Shire Council Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2013
Division 2     Restraint of animals

14.      Duty to provide proper enclosure and prevent animal from wandering

  1. A person who keeps an animal must maintain a proper enclosure to prevent the animal from wandering or escaping from the person’s land. Maximum penalty for subsection (1)—20 penalty units.
  2. The local government may, by subordinate local law, prescribe requirements for a proper enclosure for an animal or species or breed of animal.
  3. The owner of the animal must ensure that it is not wandering at large.14

14 Definition of wandering at large
    (a) the animal is not under the effective control of someone; and
    (b) the animal is in either
         (i) a public place; or
         (ii) a private place without the consent of the occupier.

OWNERS PLEASE NOTE: The following dogs have recently been reported wandering at large. Please ensure your pet is secured as they are subject to impound.  

15JUN26 Wandering Dogs filmstrip.jpg

16 JUNE 2026 - Five dogs, 2 adult dogs and 3 pups (2 black and 1 brown), were reported wandering at the Pilot Street end of the Tagai Secondary School Campus Oval. In addition to not being restrained, dogs are not allowed on sports ovals in the community. 

 

Vet Care

Thursday Island Animal Support Group Inc provides regular veterinary visits to Thursday Island through Vets Beyond Borders.Pets residing in Torres Shire MUST have current council registration to be eligible for vet services.

 

 

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