Impounded Animals

If your animal is found wandering at large, they may be seized by Brisbane City Council and impounded in one of our rehoming centres. If we can identify you as the owner of the animal, you will be contacted to advise that your animal has been impounded.

You may collect your animal if the following conditions can be met*:

your animal has not been impounded for wandering at large 3 times in the past 12 months (refer to condition 1 for more information)
your animal is not a regulated animal or in the process of becoming one (refer to condition 1 for more information)
you collect your animal within the prescribed time period (usually 5 days but you will be advised of this if Council is able to contact you) (refer to condition 2 for more information)
your animal is registered with Council (if it is a dog)
your animal is microchipped (if it is a dog or a cat)
you have complied with the conditions of any notices that Council has issued you in relation to your animal (refer to condition 2 for more information)
you have paid all required fees as prescribed by Council which could include but are not limited to (refer to condition 3 for more information):
- fees for the length of time your animal has been in the shelter
- registration fee (if applicable)
- fee for microchipping (if applicable, a vet at the shelter will implant your pet with a microchip on your behalf)

* Additional conditions

_{1. If your animal has been impounded on more than 3 occasions in the past 12 months or is a regulated animal, Council is not required to release your animal to you.}

_{2. If you fail to take the required steps to reclaim your animal, it is a regulated animal or it has been found wandering more than 3 times in 12 months Council may sell, relocate or destroy your animal. This may include offering the animal for sale by private treaty or by public tender, expression of interest or auction, keeping of the animal by Council, destroying the animal, rehoming the animal if it is reasonably achievable to do so, or relocating the animal in some other way that Council considers appropriate in the circumstances.}

_{3. Any amount of money realised from the sale of an animal that has not been reclaimed is first applied towards Council’s costs of the sale, second towards any unpaid cost-recovery fees, third to any outstanding penalties or fees owed to Council in relation to the animal and fourth to any recorded owner or keeper of the animal. If Council sells or rehomes an animal, the person who purchases or rehomes the animal will become the keeper.}

It is advisable that if your animal is impounded to think about, and discuss with the team at the rehoming centre or the animal management team in Council, what actions you may need to take to ensure that your animal does not get out to wander again.

Animal Rehoming Centre release fees

The release fees to reclaim your pet from the animal rehoming centre are as follows:

Dogs

Cost for found dog listed by amount of time your dog is held for and fee.
Number of days at animal rehoming centre	Fee
Microchipped or wearing ID tags - released on the first day	$40.75
Not microchipped or wearing ID tags - released on the first day	$60.85
Fee for every subsequent day	$27.05

Cats

Cost for found cat listed by amount of time your cat is held for and fee.
Number of days at animal rehoming centre	Fee
Microchipped or wearing ID tags - released on the first day	$31.00
Not microchipped or wearing ID tags - released on the first day	$47.10
Fee for every subsequent day	$15.50

Seized dogs

Cost for seized dogs listed by amount of time your dog is held for and fee.
Number of days at animal rehoming centre	Fee
First day	$115.50
Each day thereafter	$33.15

Microchipping impounded cat or dog

Council can microchip your impounded cat or dog. This service is available from Warra Animal Rehoming Centre only.

Fees to microchip impounded dog or cat.
Impounded animal	Fee (incl GST)
Dog	$44.65
Cat	$44.65

You can contact the relevant animal rehoming centre for release fee information for impounded animals, other than dogs and cats.

Last updated: 1 July 2023