When it comes to a bringing a new puppy or kitten home there’s a lot to think about: vaccinations, food, bedding, de-sexing, microchipping and even a name. But now thanks to a new digital portal there’s one part of your pet to-do list that can be done without having to leave home, registration.
All cats and dogs in NSW - except some exempt animals - must be officially registered on the NSW Companion Animals Register. This gives your pet a unique online identity complete with photos, keeps their details up to date and means they can easily be reunited with you should they get lost. It’s why when you move home, it’s important you remember to update their details.
Registration also helps Council with accurate data about the number of animals living locally and enables us to provide education and awareness on considerate pet ownership.
Current NSW laws on microchipping
Your animal must be microchipped before it can be registered, and the breeder or owner selling or giving away the animal should provide you with your puppy or kitten's microchip number at the time when you take your pet home.
If you’ve adopted your pet from a council pound, a shelter or an approved rehoming organisation, both microchipping and desexing will likely have been done already. Registration of pets adopted from such an approved rehoming organisation is free.
Quick guide to registering your pet
Pet Registration using the Digital Pet Registry is easy.
- Use your ServiceNSW to log in and create a pet profile, or if your pet was transferred to your account by a vet or breeder, the pet profile will instantly appear. If there’s no profile, simply use the microchip number to link your pet to your account.
- Selecting your pet’s profile will also show you a dynamic timeline of important events such as registration and desexing due dates.
- Click register.
- For those who’ve recently moved home, it’s important you remember to update your pet’s address on their profile, and for added security upload recent photos.
- Pay online.
For more information on pet ownership or the NSW Digital Pet Registry FAQs.