A dog must be exercised (or allowed to exercise itself) for two hours following 24 hours of close confinement.

Dogs may be covered by many types of offences under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 that also apply to other animals, such as breach of duty of care or abandonment.

The following offences are specific to dogs only:

• It is an offence for a person in charge of a dog that is closely confined for 24 hours not to ensure that the dog is exercised or allowed to exercise itself for the next two hours or the next one hour and another hour in the next 24 hours.

  What is judged to be 'closely confined' depends on the size, age and health of the dog. A particular situation might not be considered 'close confinement' for a small dog, which was very elderly or recovering from surgery, but it could be considered close confinement for a young, fit, large dog.

  The maximum penalty for an individual convicted of not ensuring that a dog is exercised as described above is $2000.

• There are three offences involving the actions of dogs that cause another animal to suffer. In these instances the person in control of the dog is potentially liable for prosecution. These offences are:

  • Knowingly causing an animal in captivity to be injured or killed by a dog.
  • Releasing an animal to allow it to be, or in circumstances in which it is likely to be, injured or killed by a dog.
  • Keeping or using an animal as a kill or lure to blood a dog or to race or train a coursing dog.

  See sections 30-32 of the ACPA for more information.

  The maximum penalty for an individual convicted of any of these three dog-related offences is $30,000 or one year imprisonment.

  RSPCA Fairfield keep dogs in these shipping containers packed into confined compartments and the dogs are not let out for exercise. One of Geraldine Robertson's dogs got pneumonia and died from these conditions.