Every year, many koalas are either killed or seriously injured by dogs. Many others are rescued before serious injuries take place. Hastings Council and the Koala Preservation Society of NSW believe that it is ignorance that is causing the harm, not wilful negligence.

Koalas are most active at night. This is the same time they are usually attacked by dogs. Although koalas are tree-dwelling animals, they often travel along the ground to get from one tree to another. In Port Macquarie, the average home range of a koala is 11.1 hectares, whereas in the wild, it is 2-3 hectares. Trees cover only 5% of residential land. This means that koalas in urban areas have to spend a lot more time on the ground going from one food tree to the next. This also makes them vulnerable to dog attack.

Sometimes, new homes or new dogs appear in an area that was once a koala's home territory. Koalas are very territorial and find it difficult to change their habits. If there is a risk of your dog attacking a koala in your yard, koala-proof fencing, such as zincalume fencing or metal rod fencing should help to keep koalas out.