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Companion Animals

Registering Your Pets

Under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998, all dogs and cats which are born or who change owners after the 1st July 1999 will need to be microchipped and registered. Microchipping ensures that all pets have a means of permanent identification which cannot be lost or tampered with.

Microchipping:

  • Animals are to be microchipped by 12 weeks of age and have Lifetime Registration by the time the animal is six months of age.
  • Microchipping is carried out by a vet or any authorised implanter, and is painless. It is about the size of a grain of rice and is usually placed between the shoulders- it is similar to them receiving immunisation injections.
  • Microchipping enables vets and other animal workers to reunite pets with their owners. There is a barcode on the microchip that is implanted by your vet that will have all of the information you supplied at the time.
Lifetime Registration

Lifetime registration takes place after you have had your animal microchipped and it is paid at your local council. It is a one-off payment, and must be done by the time the animal is six months of age.

Make sure you bring all the necessary documentation with you when you go to register your animal at the council office, ie microchip details, sterililsation certificate, breeder’s card or pension card.

Lifetime Registration Form – Dog Registration Form

The above form needs to be completed and brought into Council offices with appropriate payment and documentation to complete registration.

Lifetime Registration Fees:

Registration type Current Fee
Entire Animal (not desexed)
$207
Desexed animal
$57
Animal not desexed kept by recognised breeder for breeding purposes
$57
Desexed animal owned by eligible pensioner (with verification)
$24
Working dog or Assistance Animal (with verification)
FREE

Trained assistance animal such as seeing eye dogs and farm working dogs do not have to be registered.

Exemptions

Cats born before July 1999 do not have to be microchipped or registered. Part 29 of the Companion Animals Act requires all cats to have some form of identification that enables a local authority to be able to obtain contact details of the owner, such as a collar with a tag attached or a microchip.

For further information, contact Balranald Shire Council on 03 5020 1300 or visit the Division of Local Government, Companions Animals Website.