Should my dog or cat be registered?

As from the 1st July 1999 new COMPANION ANIMALS ACT came into force. The aim of the Act is to get all cats and dogs microchipped and onto a state wide register. When a chipped animal is impounded it can be scanned and the owner identified.

Dogs already owned but not registered should be chipped and registered immediately.

Working Dogs MUST be chipped and registered but are exempted from the Registration fee ONLY. They DO LOSE their exemption if impounded or fined. The definition of a working dog is a dog used primarily for the purpose of droving, tending, working or protecting stock and includes a dog being trained as a working dog. Note: It is proposed that the Regulations will provide that working dogs exempted from the Act’s provisions do not include dogs working off-farm (ie dogs working in town stock yards are not excluded).

Greyhounds registered with the Greyhound Racing Authority Act 1985 are not required to be microchipped and registered but it is recommended for the protection of the dog. Assistance animals are required to be microchipped and registered but there is no registration fee. Any puppy or adult dog which changes owner after 1-7-99 must be microchipped at time of change of owner. Any dog 6 months of age and over must be lifetime registered.

LIFETIME REGISTRATION FEES ARE:

• $ 58 for a desexed animal.
• $ 58 for a recognised breeder
• $ 25 for a pensioner with a desexed animal.
• $210 for an entire animal not desexed.

CATS – Already owned cats as at 1 July 1999 are exempted from permanent identification and life time registration. However owners are encouraged to chip and register their cats. All cats are required to wear either a collar and tag or be chipped if they are away from their owners’ property. Any kitten or cat which changes owner after 1 July 1999 must be chipped. Any cat 6 months of age and over must be microchipped and registered.