If you have a complaint about a nuisance animal, talk to the owner first. If you're not comfortable doing that or you cannot come to a mutual solution, contact your local council. Encourage any neighbours with the same concerns to also contact the council.
If the council has had multiple complaints and/or identifies a serious or ongoing problem, it may issue a nuisance order. This requires the animal’s owner to prevent the behaviour specified in the order. Penalties may apply if the owner does not comply.
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998: a ‘nuisance dog’:
- consistently roams
- makes persistent, excessive noise
- endangers the health of a person or animal (other than vermin)
- repeatedly:
- defecates on private property
- runs at or chases a person, animal (other than vermin) or vehicle
- causes substantial damage to anything outside the property on which it is ordinarily kept.
A ‘nuisance cat’:
- makes persistent, excessive noise, or
- repeatedly damages anything outside the property on which it is ordinarily kept.
If you suspect an animal is being mistreated, report it to the RSPCA or local police.
Last updated: 22 January 2025