Administer the NSW Companion Animals Register for the Richmond Valley Council Local Government Area RVC Rangers process NSW Companion Animal Register documents relating to permanent identification (Microchipping), lifetime registration, change of owner/details and can verify the identification of a companion animal brought to the pound. Rangers enter the data from these documents into the register and issue printed certificates relating to database information.
Rangers also can:
- Seize and impound roaming dogs this is a service provided by RVC for the health and safety of dogs. Under the NSW Companion Animals Act, all dogs must be under effective control at all times – generally this means they must be secured within a property, or be on a lead held by a person unless they are being supervised in an authorised ‘Off lead’ area.
- Investigate dog attacks. Under the Companion Animals Act, it is an offence for if a dog “…rushes at, attacks, bites, harasses or chases any person or animal (other than vermin), whether or not any injury is caused to the person or animal.”
- Investigate nuisance animal complaints. Under the NSW Companion Animals Act Rangers can investigate and take action regarding nuisance companion animals (dogs or cats). Nuisance behaviour for dogs could be:
- Making noise, by barking or otherwise, that persistently occurs or continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person in any other premises,
- Regularly escaping (habitually at large)
- Repeatedly defecates on private property outside its own property
- Repeatedly runs at or chases any person, animal or vehicle
- Endangers the health of any person or animal
- Repeatedly causes substantial damage to anything outside its property.
Nuisance behaviour for cats could be:
- Making a noise that persistently occurs or continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person in any other premises
- Repeatedly damages anything outside its property
- Identify companion animals (cats and dogs) killed by traffic & notify owner
- The NSW Companion Animals Act states that councils are required to take reasonable steps to identify any companion animal that appears to have been hit by a vehicle and, if the animal is microchipped, to notify the owner and update the NSW Companion Animals Register.