Circulars

What’s new or changing?

• New Guidelines for Registration Agents have been issued and partially replace the Guidelines on the Exercise of Functions under the Companion Animals Act.
• The Guidelines, issued under clause 13 of the Companion Animals Regulation 2018, outline the mandatory roles and responsibilities of registration agents appointed under the Companion Animals Act 1998.
• From 1 July 2020 the NSW Government will introduce annual permits for owners of non-desexed cats, restricted dog breeds, and dogs declared to be dangerous.

Key points

• The new Guidelines partially replace the Guidelines on the Exercise of Functions Guidelines in relation to:
  • identification information (Chapter 4)
  • registration information and fees (Chapter 5)
  • changing the Register (part of Chapter 8)
  • greyhounds and dingoes (part of Chapter 14), and
  • paying and reconciling fees (Chapter 15).
• The attached table shows which chapters from the Exercise of Functions Guidelines have been replaced by the new Guidelines.
• The Guidelines reflect the NSW Pet Registry and legislative changes made since 2018.
• In 2018, the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 were amended by the Companion Animals and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018.
• Circular 18-26 advised councils about amendments that took effect in 2018.
• A new requirement for vets to ear-mark or tattoo desexed female cats and dogs took effect on 1 July 2019.
• The remaining amendments will come into effect from 1 July 2020, including:
  • requiring annual permits for cats that are not de-sexed
  • requiring annual permits for restricted and dangerous dogs.
• Also from 1 July 2020, a one-off $10 reduction in registration fees for cats will be made together with annual adjustments to reflect the Consumer Price Index.
• The Guidelines (at 5.5.28) advise that eligible pensioners that buy a pet from an eligible pound or shelter are entitled to access the cheapest registration fee.
• To the extent that the new Guidelines are inconsistent with the Exercise of Functions Guidelines, registration agents should apply the new Guidelines.
  

Where to go for further information

• New Guidelines for Registration Agents may be viewed at www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/responsible-pet-ownership/nsw-pet-registry/the-cat-and-dog-register/
• The Companion Animals and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018 is at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2018/27
• The Companion Animals Regulation 2018 may be viewed at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2018/441

Tim Hurst
Deputy Secretary
Local Government, Planning and Policy