On this page Content components You may appeal your animal fine if you satisfy one of the 4 grounds for appeal listed below and can provide proof to back up your claim.You must appeal within 28 days of the issue date on the fine. After this, the fine will be referred to Fines Victoria to manage or referred to our legal team to start legal proceedings.You can appeal only once per fine, in line with the Infringements Act 2006.Please be aware that providing false or misleading documents is a separate offence under the Act and may lead to prosecution or referral to Victoria Police. Grounds for appealing an animal fine Special Circumstances Apply to appeal your fine under Special Circumstances if any of the following apply and you can demonstrate or show a link between the Special Circumstance and the behaviour that led to the fine:intellectual disabilitymental illness or disordera serious addiction to drugs or alcoholhomelessnessfamily violencelong-term circumstancesProvide supporting evidence from a medical practitioner, social worker or drug and alcohol counsellor. Contrary to law You can apply to appeal your fine if you believe that no offence took place; for example, you received a fine for failing to register your pet when the animal is actually registered. You must provide details about why you believe the decision to issue the fine is unlawful. Exceptional circumstances You can apply to appeal the fine if you experienced an unexpected event; for example, a medical emergency or a fence coming down in severe weather and the dog escaping. We have authority to decide whether your situation counts as exceptional or not.You must prove the situation was serious and beyond your control and have good supporting evidence (for example, a receipt from a fencing company). Mistake of identity This means you weren't the person in effective control of the animal at the time of the fine. If you're not the owner, or weren't the person in effective control of the animal, you must provide evidence to support this. Expand all Collapse all Appeal your animal fineYou may appeal your animal fine if you satisfy one of the 4 reasons above and can provide proof to back up your claim. Appeal your animal fineWhat happens nextAfter you submit the online form, we will:Contact you to confirm we’ve received it.Put your fine on hold while we assess your appeal. The due date won’t apply and you won’t have to pay any extra fees.Contact you to request further details if we need them. You will have 14 days from receiving our request to provide the additional information.Assess your application in line with the Infringements Act 2006 and the Attorney-General’s Guidelines to the Infringements Act 2006. Assessment may take up to 90 days.Write to tell you the outcome of your appeal. Depending on the ground you applied under, we can decide to:withdraw the fine and take no further action against youwithdraw the fine and issue an official warning insteadwaive the penalty reminder notice feeapprove a payment arrangementconfirm our decision to issue the finerefer the matter to the Magistrates Court, or the Children’s Court if you’re under 18.If your application is not successful, we’ll tell you how much you need to pay, when it needs to be paid and whether other options are available to you.
