Keep Your Pets Safe - Key Changes to NSW Pet Ownership Laws

Published on 18 July 2024

Pet owners across the Snowy Valleys must now comply with new rules on microchipping, registration, and desexing of their dogs and cats.

The updates to regulations came into effect across NSW in July and are aimed at improving pet management and making it quicker and easier to reunite lost animals with their owners.

Key changes to the regulations include:

• Microchipping: All cats and dogs in NSW must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or when sold or given away – whichever comes first.
• Registration: Pet owners are required to register their animals on the NSW Pet Registry by 12 weeks of age, or if their new pet is less than 12 weeks old, when they first take ownership.
• Additional Fees for Non-Desexed Animals: Dog owners must pay an extra charge if their pet is not desexed before six months of age. For cats, an annual permit fee applies if the animal is not desexed by four months old. Cats born before 22 July 2020 are exempt from this requirement.

Local pet owners are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new regulations and register for the new online NSW Pet Registry as soon as possible.

Creating an account on the NSW Pet Registry website allows users to pay fees, update pet details, and report missing animals.

For more information, visit the NSW Pet Registry website at petreg.nsw.gov.au or check out the NSW Office of Local Government’s website at www.petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au.

-ENDS-