DOG owners may be able to keep more than two dogs at their property if council gives it the all clear next year.
Redland City Council will explore options around flexibility of its current animal management laws after deputy mayor Julie Talty brought the motion before council yesterday.
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"The current laws do not provide understanding and recognition of the activities and circumstances around the keeping of dogs within our community," she said.
"Community feedback indicates greater consideration needs to be given to allowing licences for extra dogs on larger and acreage lots.
She said this was particularly relevant in her division - Mount Cotton and Redland Bay.
"I have had complaints from people who cannot keep their show dogs, even where the breed is very small and lives in the house, without making full application through the planning scheme for a boarding kennel," she said.
Cr Talty also said the current framework had no recognition for volunteers who rescue or foster dogs.
She stressed there was no intentions to change the council standard of two dogs, and three under special circumstances, for the majority of urban residential homes.
"This is about being more flexible and meeting the challenges of life for those who do not fit that circumstance while still managing the impacts," she said.
Council officers will now undertake benchmarking to understand how other councils regulate dog ownership and outline options for flexibility around dog numbers, based on activities such as show dogs and foster providers, and property size.
The report will also include options for tiered cat registration fees for owners who keep their pet in their property, or have them desexed.
The officers' report will be brought to council before the end of March 2021.
