PETS in the Rose City have been whole-heartedly defended by their owners, after the Southern Downs Regional Council announced tough new laws to 'remove' non-complying animals.

Barking dogs are among the animals that could face harsh consequences, despite residents insisting barking is a way for their pets to protect their property.

The council moved to amend animal management laws allowing it to issue 'removal notices' to pet and animal owners who had not adhered to a compliance notice.

A removal notice may require the owner or council staff to destroy or permanently remove the animal from a specified area.

Residents took to social media to express their outrage about the new laws.

Toni-Lee Ellen O'Brien said dogs had good reasons to bark and the new laws were taking control too far.

"Dogs bark to protect there property and to warn there owner there is someone out there,” she said.

"It's a natural thing for a dog to bark. This town is down right pathetic!

"Dogs are family pets and people's best mates and loved by there owner and use want to destroy their family pet because it barks?

"Come on Warwick! How about taking into consideration the people who walk past theses dogs and tease them!”

Lyn Prowse-Bishop was concerned about groundless complaints made against barking dogs and called for better investigation processes.

"Council got one complaint about our dogs (that were doing their job... Ie barking at trespassers when we weren't home) and told us to fix it or else,” she said.

"We installed cameras that proved the dogs weren't barking excessively but the onus shouldn't be on the owner to prove or disprove but on the complainant to prove the complaint.

"Council also needs to better define 'excessive barking, or "nuisance barking' in local laws or one bark every 4 hours can constitute excessive.”

Abbie Dredge agreed dogs needed to bark in certain circumstances and said council should be giving their attention elsewhere.

"My mother's old next door neighbour had a house full of cats inside and 4 adult dogs and a litter of puppies, constantly had the council rung by other neighbours because the dogs and puppies were malnourished and very neglected and the council showed everytime and never ceased any of them,” she said.

"Now they wanna crack down or [sic] barking dogs?

"Dogs who constantly bark yes, but my dog barks only if there's someone creeping around or there's another dog at our fence!

"I think you'd should be focusing on the dogs who roam the streets, chasing children walking to school & attacking other animals because I've seen plenty of that lately!”

Sue Fischer suggested it was residents, not pets, that needed to be pulled into line.

"Not many bad pets, but lots of bad owners!!” she said.

The new laws are being brought in to combat a staggering amount of compliance notices issued, with 936 given out each year.

The most common reasons for compliance notices included straying dogs, unregistered dogs, failure to provide a suitable enclosure, barking complaints and an excess number of dogs being kept on a property.

Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie this week said removal notices were a necessary last resort allowing council to enforce animal management laws.

"If council is going to have laws (around animal management) there needs to be an outcome at the end of it,” Cr Dobie said.

"Giving someone a compliance notice and people not complying doesn't achieve anything.”