Pet Registration

The Companion Animals Act 1998 provides rules and guidelines for the effective and responsible care and management of companion animals.

Responsible pet owners must microchip and register their dog or cat and ensure that their contact details are up to date.

Online

Step 1.Microchipping and Identification

Microchipping is performed by authorised vets or animal welfare organisations and ensures that the pet has a permanent identification, and can be returned to their owners or re-homed.

Pets must be microchipped before they can be registered.  Identification must be completed by the time the animal is 12 weeks old or prior to sale or transfer of ownership.

When you adopt or purchase a companion animal, you should be provided with microchip details and an identification certificate. 

Step 2.Desex Your Pet

Before registering your pet, you should decide whether or not you will get it desexed.

Desexing your pet is strongly recommended, unless you have been issued a letter from your veterinarian to specify that desexing should be delayed for health reasons.

Animals that are not desexed incur a higher registration fee.  Owners of cats that are not desexed by four months of age are also required to pay an annual permit fee, along with owners of dogs of a restricted breed or dogs declared to be dangerous. 

For more information visit Office of Local Government: Desex a pet.

Step 3.Register

By the time your dog is six months old or your cat is 3 months old, it must be lifetime registered in accordance with the Companion Animals Act 1998.  You will have 28 days from when you pet reaches the required age to register them otherwise late fees apply.

You can register your pet online with the NSW Pet Registry.

Register your pet 

In Person

Step 1.Microchipping and Identification

Microchipping is performed by authorised vets or animal welfare organisations and ensures that the pet has a permanent identification, and can be returned to their owners or re-homed.

Pets must be microchipped before they can be registered.  Identification must be completed by the time the animal is 12 weeks old or prior to sale or transfer of ownership.

When you adopt or purchase a companion animal, you should be provided with microchip details and an identification certificate.

Permanent identification form

Step 2.Desex Your Pet

Before registering your pet, you should decide whether or not you will get it desexed.

Desexing your pet is strongly recommended, unless you have been issued a letter from your veterinarian to specify that desexing should be delayed for health reasons.

Animals that are not desexed incur a higher registration fee.  Owners of cats that are not desexed by four months of age are also required to pay an annual permit fee, along with owners of dogs of a restricted breed or dogs declared to be dangerous. 

For more information visit Office of Local Government: Desex a pet.

Step 3.Register

By the time your dog is six months old or your cat is 3 months old, it must be lifetime registered in accordance with the Companion Animals Act 1998.  You will have 28 days from when you pet reaches the required age to register them otherwise late fees apply.

In order for Council to register your pet for you, you must complete a registration form as well as provide a copy of the certificate of sterilisation and delayed desexing letter (if applicable).

Pet registration form

Visit us at 22 Alexandra Street Hunters Hill and our Customer Service team will assist you in making the relevant registration payment and issue you with the certificate of registration via email.

Update Your Details

As a pet owner in NSW, you are responsible for ensuring that your pets details remain up to date.  This includes:

  • updating your contact details if you move house or change phone numbers (within 14 days)
  • reporting your pet if missing (within 96 hours)
  • notifying Council is your pet dies (within 28 days or 24 hours for dangerous or restricted dog breeds)

Updates can be made on the NSW Pet Registry or complete the Update your details form.

Moving Interstate

If you are moving interstate with your pet, even if only for a temporary period, you will need to update your details on the NSW Pet Registry or complete the Update your details form.

The NSW Pet Registry is not a national register, so you will also need to contact the Council in the area you are moving to. They will be able to provide you with information about what is required in that state.