BULLI residents have raised concerns with Wollongong City Council over two separate matters relating to dogs in the Sandon Point area.

On Friday 25 July a Wollongong City Council Animal Compliance Officer was patrolling at Bulli and witnessed an attack by a bull terrier (American) cross mastiff, on two other dogs.

A Council spokesperson said the unregistered animal was immediately seized and impounded by Council.

On Monday 4 August the owner was provided with a Notice of Intention to declare the attacking dog a Dangerous Dog.

“The dog’s owner has surrendered the animal to Council where it will be humanely euthanised,” the spokesperson said.

“Neither the dog, nor its owner, reside at the property in Point Street, Bulli, where Council has been working with Homes NSW to manage an issue related to multiple dog ownership.”

Meanwhile Council is working with Homes NSW since November 2024 to resolve a matter related to a property in Point Street, Bulli, where a large number of dogs have been kept.

“Since mid-November 2024, we’ve had a significant number of community complaints about the property,” the spokesperson said.

“There were concerns that the dogs were not being contained effectively, and that they were roaming freely and intimidating residents.”

The spokesperson said under the NSW Government’s Companion Animals Act 1998, Council’s ability to seize dogs is limited to dogs that have attacked or bitten a person or another animal and seizure can only occur within 72 hours after the attack or bite.

Late last year, Council wrote to the Office of Local Government encouraging a review (broadening) of seizure powers.

“While Council and Homes NSW worked on this issue, we increased Animal Compliance patrols in Bulli and the surrounds,” the spokesperson said.

Council said its officers have issued more than a dozen fines to the dog owner, and served a number of nuisance orders.

Since December 2024, three dogs from this residence have been impounded by Council. Two have entered Council’s re-homing program while one, after an assessment found it to be a threat to community safety, was humanely euthanised.

The spokesperson said a verbal agreement was reached that all except three of the dogs currently residing at the Point Street property will be voluntarily surrendered to Council.

“This will be done in a phased manner to allow Council to have each of the dogs appropriately assessed and evaluated by vets and animal behaviourists,” the spokesperson said.

“If they’re able to be rehomed, they’ll be available for adoption through the Wollongong Pet Connection.”

Council is encouraging anyone who witnesses dogs behaving aggressively or dangerously to call Council immediately on 4227 7111 (including outside of business hours).

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