If you have lost your dog or cat, it is recommended you contact our offices as soon as possible. We keep a record of all animals that have been impounded.
Contact
By reporting your pet missing we will also be able to change the status of your cat or dog on the NSW Companion Animals Register to 'missing', which will lock the microchip record until your cat or dog is found or has returned home. This will prevent other persons from transferring ownership (E.g. in the case of stolen animals).
You should also consider contacting local vets and approved animal welfare organisations, such as the RSPCA, the Animal Welfare League and the Cat Protection Society, to check if a cat or dog with your pet’s microchip number or matching your pet’s description has been found.
Update your details
It is important to confirm with us that your contact details are correct when reporting your missing pet, so that you can be contacted when they are found.
If you move or change details (E.g. phone number/s), update your details in Pet Registry website so that we can contact you if your animal is ever impounded.
www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au/
Once your pet is found it is important to notify us again so we can update and unlock your pet’s microchip record in the Companion Animals Register.
An animal is impounded if:
- It is picked up on the street by an authorised officer in the course of performance of duty – for example a stray dog
- It is turned into Council pound or brought to Council offices
- It is seized by a member of the public and taken to the pound
- The animal comes into the care or custody of the Council pound by any means
Microchipped impounded animals
ALL animals that are impounded are scanned for a microchip to ascertain the owner’s details. If the animal is microchipped, the owner is contacted and informed that the animal has been impounded.
An animal will be held for a requisite 14 days if the animal is microchipped and the owner identified. If we cannot contact you, we will hold your pet for the legal period of 14 days, after which time the animal will be put up for adoption.
Generally the owner must pay all fees and charges in full prior to the release of the animal. Refer to Council's Fees & Charges Schedule for more information.
Non-microchipped impounded animals
If the animal is not identified by microchip then the Ranger will make reasonable enquiries to determine the owner and contact them.
Council will hold an animal for a requisite period of time:
- 14 days if the animal is not microchipped but the owner has been identified
- 7 days if the animal is not microchipped and the owner is not identified
It is the law that all dogs and cats (companion animals) must be microchipped and registered before they can be released. Generally the owner must pay all fees and charges in full, prior to the release of the animal.
Note: Payment of fees and charges does not eliminate liability of offences or issue of any penalties
Council attempts to re-home as many suitable animals as possible. Unfortunately not all animals are suited for re-homing. The following animals are not re-homed:
- Unclaimed dogs that have been involved in an attack incident
- Unclaimed dogs/cats that show unacceptable levels of aggression or behavioural issues during baseline assessments during impound
- Feral cats
- Dogs of a breed used for hunting such as pig dogs, wolfhounds, bull arab etc.
- Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and other like breeds
If you have found a dog or cat that you believe to be a stray, you should first check to see if it is wearing a collar and tag. If it is, use the information on the tag to contact the owner.
If the animal is not wearing a collar and tag, or you are unable to approach it, contact our Customer Service Team during normal business hours and we will work to help you resolve the situation.
For stray dogs you will need to provide the following details:
- The location of the animal
- A full description of the animal. (e.g. colour, breed, size)
- Any identifiers of the owner of the animal (if possible)
We will attend the scene as soon as practical and scan the animal for a microchip. If the owner can be located the animal will be returned home. If there is no identification the animal will be impounded.
It is an offence under the Companion Animals Act to keep an animal that does not belong to you.
To report a strayed or captured animal or lodge another animal complaint Make an Online Animal Request
Stray Cats
If you feed and continue to feed a stray cat and it keeps coming to your house, you are considered to be the owner, under NSW law.
Under NSW law, owned cats are allowed to roam free, except in food preparation and eating areas (within 10 metres).