Cats or dogs over the age of three months (or any age, if the animal is to be sold or given away) must be registered with their local council by 10 April each year. Registration must be renewed annually. The types and levels of fees are set by the council. Failure to register your cat or dog may result in a fine of 10 penalty unit.
Councils must refuse to register dogs and cats unless they have been permanently identified and may refuse to register them unless desexed (there are exceptions to this for breeders).
On registration of cats or dogs Councils must issue to their owners an identification marker which must be worn at all times unless on home premises.
Some exceptions are provide to this :
- Hounds hunting (under special provisions)
- Dogs going to a place for, working or returning from, working livestock
- Dogs and cats at shows
Permanent Identification of Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats must be identified with a microchip containing the information prescribed in the Regulations, and implanted by a licenced operator.
If written advice from a veterinary surgeon is obtained indicating that microchipping may prejudice an animal’s health, the animal is exempt from microchipping.
Councils may also exempt a class of cat or dog from microchipping.
It is an offence under the Act for a licensed operator to release information on a microchip to anyone except an employee of theirs, the owner of the animal, the Domestic Animal Registry service which is servicing such animals or an authorized officer.
You must not sell or give away a cat or dog of any age unless it is microchipped. A penalty of 10 penalty unit applies.
It is an offence to remove a microchip from an animal unless you are licensed to do so.
What is a Domestic Animal Registry Service?
This is a service licenced for keeping and maintaining records relating to dogs or cats.
Codes of Practice relating to Dogs and Cats
The following codes are relevant:
- Code of Practice for the Operation of Boarding Establishments
- Code of practice for the management of dogs and cats in shelters and pounds
- Code of Practice for the operation of Greyhound establishments
- Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Dogs
- Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Cats
- Code of Practice for the Operation of Pet Shops
These codes have been produced in accordance with the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 and are available on the DPI website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au.
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