Reclaiming your dog from the Pound
What to do if you’ve been advised your dog is at the Dogs’ Home
- Hobart Dogs’ Home is the official pound for the Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Brighton Councils.
- Burnie Dogs’ Home is the official pound for the Burnie and Waratah-Wynyard Councils.
- Devonport Dogs’ Home is the official pound for the Devonport, Latrobe and Kentish Councils.
- Launceston Dogs’ Home is the official pound for the City of Launceston Council.
IF YOUR DOG IS BROUGHT TO US
We’ll do everything we can to contact you. If your dog has their registration disc attached their collar and/or they are microchipped we’ll keep trying for five days. If your dog is not registered or micro-chipped or your micro-chip details are no longer current, it may be impossible to find you.
LEGAL HOLDING DAYS
A dog not wearing a registration disc is held in the pound for 3 working days.
A registered dog is held for 5 working days.
A microchipped dog is held for 5 working days.
If you do not collect your dog by the end of the legal holding days, your dog will become the legal property of the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and our rehoming assessment process will commence.
FEES PAYABLE
The Dog Control Act requires the owner of an impounded dog to pay a maintenance fee which covers the daily care of their pet whilst at the pound, a release fee and a registration fee if the dog is not currently registered, plus a fee for microchipping your dog, if he/she is not already microchipped.
Separate Council fines and fees may also apply and will be sent to you by the relevant Council directly.
Daily maintenance Fee: $39 per day per dog ($39 applies to same day collection)
Council Release Fee (for council impounded dogs): Varies from $25 – $175 per dog depending on council area, registration status of dog and number of offences.
- Burnie Council: $63 per dog
- Waratah Wynyard Council: $84 – $175 per dog (depending on registration status of dog and impound history)
- Devonport City Council: No longer charging release fees
- Latrobe Council: No longer charging release fees
- Kentish Council: No longer charging release fees
- Launceston City Council: $38 – $81 per dog (depending on impound history)
- Clarence, Brighton, Glenorchy & Hobart Councils: $80 per dog
Please visit the relevant council website for more detailed fee information.
Dogs’ Homes Release Fee (for strays brought in by members of the public):
- $72 per dog (all Homes)
Registration Fee: Varies depending on the council, age of dog, desexed or entire, working dog, dangerous dog etc. Not relevant to dogs already registered. It is a legal requirement in Tasmania for all dogs 6 months of age and older to be registered.
Microchipping Fee: $55 per dog. Not relevant to dogs already microchipped. It is a legal requirement in Tasmania for all dogs 6 months of age and older to be microchipped.
All fees need to be paid in full upon collection of your dog.
What happens if I don’t reclaim my dog?
The majority of dogs not reclaimed by their owners are made available for adoption to new homes. Sadly, some dogs need to be euthanised if they have an incurable health condition, a very poor prognosis due to illness or injury, or are unsafe to rehome due to human or animal aggression.
