Pet Registration & Microchipping

From 1 July 2020, the Office of Local Government implemented the following annual fees for owners of:

• Cats not desexed by four months of age will be required to pay an $80.00 annual permit, in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee, and
• Dogs of a restricted breed or declared to be dangerous will be required to pay a $195.00 annual permit in addition to a one-off lifetime pet registration fee.

For further information on the annual fees, visit the OLG website.

Application for Annual Permit(PDF, 91KB)

A Change of ownership form can be obtained by following the Chip In links on the Pet Registry Website. The required form is entitled the Change of Owner Details form.

The form needs to be completed and if the new address is still in NSW, sent back to Council or submitted in person.  Council will then amend your details so they are correct and you will be forwarded a new certificate of registration.

For interstate addresses, the completed form must be sent to:

NSW Companion Animals Register
Locked Bag 3030
Nowra NSW 2541

The NSW Government has introduced annual permits for non-desexed cats and restricted and dangerous dogs as part of its commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership and improving animal welfare standards.

From 1 July 2020 owners of cats not desexed by four months of age are required to pay an annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.

From 1 July 2020 owners of dogs of a restricted breed or formally declared to be dangerous are also required to pay an annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.

Ways to minimise your risk of being charged for an annual permit

• Desex your cat by 4 months of age or request a medical exemption from your vet
• If you are a cat breeder, join a registrered cat breeding body
• Do not own a dog that is of a restricted breed
• Introduce training to your dog at a young age and continue to review your dogs behaviour to ensure it is not declared dangerous

Pet owners can pay for annual permits using the NSW Pet Registry website or by contacting Council's Customer Service team over the phone on 02 6799 6866 or in person at Council's Administration Building, 46-48 Maitland Street, Narrabri during business hours.

Further information on annual permits and lifetime regsitration for your pets can be found on the NSW Pet Registry page of the Office of Local Government website or the NSW Pet Registry website.

Annual Permit Poster(PDF, 821KB)

Technological advances have made it easy to keep track of your pet through the implantation of a microchip.

About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip contains a unique 15 digit identification number that is quickly implanted under your pets skin between the shoulders, which can be scanned in the event your pet is found lost or stolen.

For peace of mind it is always advised that the new owner makes enquiries with the Council to ensure the details are changed and as much information is provided in case your animal becomes lost or is stolen. The more information and contact numbers available on the Companion Animals Register the more likely you are to have your pet returned to you.

Microchipping and registration is a two part process that requires dog owners to:

1. Have their animal implanted with a microchip from the time they are 12 weeks of age. This must occur at point of sale or change of ownership.
 
2. Register their animals with their NSW local Council by 6 months of age.

There is nothing stopping you from registering your new puppy as soon as possible. Early microchipping and registration is highly recommended as a large percentage of puppies under 6 months of age are regularly lost from their homes.

Registration is for life time in NSW and current fees can be found on the Fees and Charges section of this website.

Owners of dogs are required to identify (microchip) their dogs at 3 months of age or before they are sold or given away. This means that when purchasing or receiving a companion animal (cat or dog) the person selling or giving away that animal is guilty of an offence if the animal has not been permanently identified before the transaction is finalised.

New owners must change the details of the microchipping information. A form can be downloaded from the internet, simply visit  www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au and follow the links to “Chip In”. The form which you will be required to fill out is called the Change of Owner Details form which requires a signature from both the new and old owners of the pet. This form can be submitted into Council and Council Officers will change the details on the Pet Registry. This form will change the owner details on the microchipping and the registration.

Registration is required at 6 months of age or if one of the following occurs before 6 months:

1) The dog is impounded;
2) The dog is declared dangerous; or
3) The dog is declared a nuisance.

Further information and regulations can be found by viewing the Companion Animals Act (1998) NSW or contacting Council's Compliance team 02 6799 6866. Pet registration information sheets and a How to Register Your Pet flyer are also available on the OLG website http://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/public/dogs-cats/.

Please remember that if a Companion Animal changes address or dies that it needs to be updated in the Register. If your Companion Animals status changes please contact Council to have the register updated.

Contact Council to let them know. Your details will be changed so they are corrected on the pet registry.