When do dogs have to be registered?

Dogs must be registered before they reach 3 months old and then before 31 July each year. The fine for an unregistered dog is $300 , plus the registration fee

What happens if my dog dies?

You will need to provide a vet certificate and/or the registration tag back to Council, and fill in a Dog Refund Form; Council will then refund a proportion of the registration fee, calculated on the number of complete months left in the registration year.

What happens if I sell or give away my dog?

If you’ve sold or brought a dog, you must let us know the address of the new owner within 14 days, and the address where the dog is kept. If you don’t do this you could be facing a $100 fine.

Do I need to do anything if I move house?

If you move within the district, just phone council and let us know your new address or complete a change of address form. If you move out of the district you will need to notify both Councils within 14 days of shifting – if you take the current registration tag into the office, they should issue you a new one (for that district) free of charge.

Does my dog need a microchip?

Microchipping makes it easier to identify dogs that get lost, and to identify dangerous dogs. Since 2006 the law requires all new puppies to be microchipped within two months of registration.

You will also need to microchip your dog if:

• you are registering your dog for the first time in your local area
• your dog is classified as dangerous
• your dog is classified as menacing
• your dog has been impounded for the second time.