Dog & Cat Registration

If you have moved and need to update the registration details of your pet, you can email a completed Change of address form(PDF, 315KB) to Council or update the details through NSW Pet Registry.  

In NSW, The Companion Animals Act , sets out the rules for pet ownership. This includes the requirement for all cats and dogs to be microchipped and registered. 

• Your dog or cat must be microchipped by and registered by 3 months of age (12 weeks).
• By 4 months your cat should be desexed. An annual permit is required for cats that are desexed after this age.
• Additional fees also apply for dogs that are not desexed, restricted breeds and dogs that are declared dangerous.

Failure to microchip your pet may result in a penalty notice.

Find out more about Microchipping

The NSW Government is introduced annual permits for non-desexed cats and restricted and dangerous dogs in 1 July 2020.

Dogs must be desexed before the age of 6 months and kittens before the age of 4 months. A vet Certificate is required if requesting to delay desexing,

This will create a stronger incentive to desex cats, which in turn will improve their health and wellbeing, including reducing the risk of some cancers.

Improving desexing rates will also ease the burden on pounds and shelters, reduce euthanasia rates, and help to address concerns about feral, stray and roaming cats and their effect on wildlife.

Exemptions are in place for cats that are registered by 1 July 2020, those kept for breeding purposes by members of recognised breeding bodies, and cats which cannot be de-sexed for medical reasons. A vet Certificate is required if requesting to delay desexing,

Dogs declared as dangerous will be required to pay a $195 annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.

This will serve as a further disincentive to owning high-risk dogs and encourage owners to better manage the behaviour of their animal.

Annual permit fees will go directly to the Companion Animals Fund which pays for companion animal management by local councils including pounds/shelters, ranger services, dog recreation areas, and education and awareness programs.

The fund is also used to operate the NSW Pet Registry and carry out responsible pet ownership initiatives.

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact the NSW Pet Registry at pets@olg.nsw.gov.au and 1300 134 460.

The National Desexing Network has veterinarians available who offer discount desexing to pet owners in genuine financial need.

To find out if you qualify and to contact a NDN vet visit the website at www.ndn.org.au or telephone 1300 368 992.  

You must update the Companion Animals Register when: 

• You sell or give your animal away

• You change your address or other contact details

• Your animal dies or has been missing for more than three days

You can update these details online at the NSW Pet Registry website

If your dog or cat has died, you must notify Council within 28 days (or 24 hours in the case of a restricted dog or declared dangerous dog) of its death.

Download the Notification of Deceased Animal form(PDF, 85KB).