Under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998, all cat and dog owners must complete a 2-step process to register their pet.
STEP 1 | Microchip your pet
All cats and dogs should be microchipped when you are given or buy them or by 12 weeks of age, but the lifetime registration fees may not be paid.
The microchip contains a unique 15-digit number that helps identify the animal if it is lost or stolen. The vet/authorised implanter will microchip the pet and enter the details of your pet in the NSW Pet Registry database and issue you with a Certificate of Identification.
You can search on the NSW Pet Registry database to check if an animal's information has been stored using the animal's microchip number.
•If the animal is identified in the register you can proceed to lifetime register the animal before it's 6 months old.
•If the animal is not identified you will need to ensure you have the appropriate documentation confirming the microchip details or you will need to make arrangements with your vet to scan your pet and verify the Microchip information.
STEP 2 | Lifetime Registration
Your dog or cat must be registered by six months old.
Registration is a once-only payment which covers the cat or dog for its lifetime in any Council area in NSW, regardless of any changes in ownership. You must be over 18 years old to register a pet. Once you have paid lifetime registration, a Certificate of Registration will be posted to you. You can search the NSW Pet Registry database to check if an animal is already registered.
Fees to register a cat or dog vary and additional fees apply if the animal hasn't been desexed by the relevant desexing age.
How to register your pet
Online through the NSW Pet Registry
This is the quickest way to register your pet.
You will need to create an owner account and claim your pet using the microchip number and pay by credit card.
If your animal is desexed it will need to be marked as desexed before making payment online to avoid additional registration fees by submitting a copy of the desexing certificate to Council or asking your vet clinic.
You can also use your account to update your details, notify if your dog or cat is missing or deceased, and register ownership changes.
If you have difficulty, please call the NSW Pet Registry Technical Assistance Line on 1300 134 460 between 9:00am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Register my pet now
Update your pet details with Council
Residents of Lake Macquarie can update their pet details by providing their companion animal documents to council.
Documentation that can be provided includes:
- Completed lifetime animal registration form
- Desexing (Sterilisation) certificate
- Change of owner or animal address form
- Change of owner of animal form
- Annual Permit form
- NSW Permanent microchip identification form
If your dog or cat is required to be registered, then fees will apply on approval of your documentation.
Click here to view form.