A new service has been created for NSW cat and dog owners. You can update your pet’s details on the Registry (www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au) or over the counter at your local council. The NSW Pet Registry enables lost pets to be reunited with their owners and is now available for cat and dog owners to:

  • create an owner profile,
  • update their contact details,
  • transfer ownership of pets
  • report their pet missing, and,
  • pay most lifetime registration fees online.

The Pet Registry will also be used by pet breeders, vets and authorised identifiers. Pet breeders, who create a profile on the Pet Register, will be able to have their new litters added straight to their profile. Veterinarians and authorised identifiers are able to enter a pet’s details directly onto the Pet Registry as part of their microchipping service, reducing errors and making data entry more efficient.

For the time being, paper forms are still available for those who cannot use the Pet Registry. People with assistance and working dogs will also need to register their dog in person at their local council.

The Pet Registry can be found at www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au

Councils should continue to use the Companion Animals Register found at www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au/car

 

Key Resources

Cat and dog

Key Information

  • Selling or giving away your dog or cat - what do you need to do?

    If you are selling or giving your cat or dog away, you must notify your local council within 14 days using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form. Both you and the new owner must sign the form.

    You must then submit the form, with the animal’s Certificate of Identification or Registration, or copy of the Permanent Identification (P1A) form to your local council so that the information on the NSW Companion Animals Register can be updated. Change of Owner/Details (C3A) forms are available from your local council.

    Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, you cannot advertise for sale, sell or give your dog away if it is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog. If you advertise for sale, sell or give your dog away and it is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog, you may be fined $16,500 for each offence.

  • Bought or been given a dog or cat but have not received any paperwork - what should you do?

    If you have bought or been given a dog or cat and you have not received any paperwork regarding the transfer of ownership on the NSW Companion Animals Register, you should contact the previous owner to ensure a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) form is sent to council.

    If you cannot contact the previous owner, contact your local council who will advise on what documentation they require to transfer ownership of the cat or dog into your name. Your local council may require you to provide a statutory declaration establishing your claim to ownership, together with any supporting documents, such as a signed sales receipt.

  • Dog or cat's microchip number is not listed on the NSW Companion Animals Register - what should you do?

    If you have had your cat or dog microchipped in NSW, the Authorised Identifier must either enter the information onto the NSW Companion Animals Register and issue you a Certificate of Identification, or send the information to your local council for data entry within three days of implanting the microchip.

    The local council must enter the information onto the NSW Companion Animal Register within seven days of receipt of the information and issue you a Certificate of Identification. If you have not received your certificate or you have concerns about the accuracy of the information on the NSW Companion Animals Register, you should take any documentation you have to your local council.

  • Changed your name or moving - what do you need to do?

    If you have changed your name, you must notify your local council within 14 days using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) form.

    If you are moving within NSW, to another state or overseas, you must notify your local council within 14 days of your change of address using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form. Alternatively, you may use a Change of Address Notice (C3C) Form.

    Interstate and overseas residents only that previously resided in NSW and failed to notify their local NSW council prior to moving should complete and post a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form or a Change of Address Notice (C3C) Form, to:

    NSW Companion Animals Register
    Locked Bag 3030
    NOWRA NSW 2541
    AUSTRALIA

    Whenever you are updating your contact details on the NSW Companion Animals Register, remember to advise any privately-operated national microchip databases on which your animal may also be listed

  • Your dog or cat has died - what do you need to do?

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

    Notification may be by telephone or in writing by email or letter to your local council. In the case of a restricted or declared dangerous dog council may require you to provide documentary evidence from a veterinary practitioner that your dog has died.

  • Should you list your dog or cat on a privately-operated national microchip database?

    The NSW Companion Animals Register is a NSW Government database, to which authorities in other states do not have access. If you are moving or travelling interstate, you may be required under another state’s legislation to list your cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database.

    In addition, if you live near a NSW state border or simply for added protection of your cat or dog if it is lost, hurt or stolen outside NSW, you may wish to list your cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database:

    Australasian Animal Registry 1800 025 461(02) 9704 1450 www.australiananimalregistry.com.au
    Central Animal Records Recovery line: 1800 333 202Administration: (03) 9706 3187 www.car.com.au
    Global Micro Animal Registry 02 8338 9063 www.globalmicro.com.au
    HomesafeID 1300 53 7140 www.homesafeid.com
    National Pet Register 1300 734 738(03) 9329 2755 www.petregister.com.au
    Petsafe (02) 8850 68001800 989 989 www.petsafe.com.au

    Privately-operated national microchip databases also accept other animals, such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and horses, which are not covered by the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 and cannot be listed on the NSW Companion Animals Register.

    Privately-operated national microchip databases are not linked to the NSW Companion Animals Register. Whenever you are updating your contact details on the NSW Companion Animals Register, remember to advise any privately-operated national microchip databases on which your cat or dog may also be listed.