Why must I register my pet?
To help keep pets safe, all pet owners are required by law to microchip and register cats and dogs with their local council once they are 3 months old.
To register, your pet needs to be microchipped and the microchip number must be included on your application form. The Domestic Animals Act 1994 outlines the requirements to register your pet.
Microchipping
Microchipping and registration make it easier to identify and return impounded cats and dogs.
Section 10C of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires cats and dogs to be microchipped as a condition of registration. For more information please visit the Department of Agriculture site.
If you have written notification from your vet that your cat or dog’s health would be adversely affected by the implantation of a microchip, you will be exempt from the microchipping requirement.
When registering your pet, it is mandatory to include the microchip number on the application.
To update your animal’s microchip details contact Australasian Animal Registry or Pet Address or Central Animal Records.
Desexing
Discounts on registration are provided if your pet is desexed.
Cats:
Desexing is mandatory for cats being registered in Wyndham. The exemptions to this are if:
- Your cat is over 10 years' old;
- The owner is registered as a domestic animal business (evidence must be provided);
- It is detrimental to the cat’s health (evidence such as written advice from a qualified Vet must be provided); or
- The owner is member of, and the cat is registered, with one of the following organisations (evidence must be provided):
- Australian National Cats Inc
- Cats Victoria Inc
- Feline Control Council (Victoria) Inc
- The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria Inc
Dogs:
You will receive a discounted registration if your dog is desexed, however, desexing is not mandatory for dogs being registered in Wyndham.
For dogs that are not desexed, you will not receive a discount on your registration unless:
- You have a working dog, kept for working stock (evidence must be provided on letterhead by the proprietor of the business/stock or some proof that the dog is used daily for working stock or be a current financial member of Dogs Victoria where a current copy of your membership card must be provided)
- Your dog is over 10 years old;
- The owner is registered as a domestic animal business (evidence must be provided);
- It is detrimental to the dog’s health (evidence such as written advice from a qualified Vet must be provided);
- The owner is member of, and the dog is registered with, one of the following organisations (evidence must be provided, for example, a copy of your current membership card):
- Australia Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc
- The Gentle Dog Trainers Association Inc
- Dogs Victoria
- Four Paws K9 Training
Pensioners
You are entitled to a discount on your pet registration if you hold any of the following concession cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card – issued by Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card
What happens after I have registered?
If there are any queries with your registration, a council officer will contact you to discuss. Otherwise, we will automatically issue you with a lifelong registration tag which must be worn by your animal when it is outside your property. Your registration tag will be mailed to you within 7 days of your registration being received.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my registration?
All animal registrations expire on 10 April each year. If your details have changed, you no longer live in Wyndham, or your animal is no longer with you, please notify us.
How do I renew my registration?
All animal registrations expire on 10 April each year. If your details have changed, you no longer live in Wyndham, or your animal is no longer with you, please notify us using our change of details form.
You will receive a registration renewal approximately 4 weeks prior to the registration expiring. You must pay the renewal fee by 10 April each year.
If you haven't received your renewal notice, contact Wyndham City on 9742 0777.
How do I replace a lost or damaged registration tag?
When you register your animal we will issue you with a registration tag which must be worn by your animal when it is outside your property.
If your dog or cat has lost their tag, you can purchase a replacement tag from the Civic Centre, Point Cook, Tarneit, or Wyndham Vale Community Centres or over the phone by credit card and we can post the new tag out to you.
There is a $5 fee for a replacement tag.
If the tag is damaged, it can be returned to us and be replaced free of charge.
What is microchipping?
A microchip provides a permanent form of identification which can quickly reunite owners with lost or injured pets. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is electronically imprinted with a unique number which can be picked up by an electronic scanner.
Vets, animal welfare organisations and other authorised people can microchip your pet. All cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered by 3 months of age. Pets already registered with Wyndham City do not have to be microchipped.
To update your animal’s microchip details contact Australasian Animal Registry or Pet Address or the Central Animal Records.
What is a menacing, dangerous or restricted breed dog?
Dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are treated differently by law.
Dangerous dogs are declared because they have attacked, are used for guarding, or have been trained to attack.
Menacing dogs are declared because they have attacked a person or animal, causing minor injury, or because they have rushed at or chased someone.
Restricted breed dogs are declared if they are a particular breed, not because they have attacked. They may have never displayed any signs of aggression, but have been deemed to be a higher risk to the community.
Owners of dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are subject to strict requirements. All of these types of dogs are required to be muzzled and on a leash when outside the owner’s premises.
Find out more information about dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed dogs.
Due to extra legal requirements, these dogs can't be registered the same way ordinary dogs can be. Each application is considered by Wyndham City before being accepted.
If you would like to register one of these dogs you must complete a registration application form and return it following the instructions on the form.
What happens if I have excess animals?
Under Wyndham City’s Community Amenity Local Law (2015) a permit is required when a property has more than the permitted amount of animals (e.g. More than 1 dog and 3 cats, more than 2 dogs and 2 cats etc.).
Find out more about applying for an Animal Permit.
Related documents
- Template Animal Registration Form 2019-20.docx (DOC, 658.39 KB)