Registering your pet

Registration to pet

The NSW Government requires the owners of dogs and cats to pay a lifetime registration fee by 12 weeks or when sold, if earlier than 12 weeks of age.

How do I register my cat or dog?

To register online, visit the NSW Pet Registry at https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry/owners/register-a-pet

Please note that you will need to provide one of the following forms of ID - driver's licence, Medicare card or passport.

OR

Download and complete a Pet Registration R2.(PDF, 176KB)

You will receive your certificate of registration once your cat or dog is registered.

The registration fee is a once-only payment and covers lifetime registration in NSW, even if pet ownership changes.

Submitting your form

You can post or email your documents (photocopy only of the certificates) to:

  1. PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630 attention ‘Dog and cat registration’, or
  2. Email to dogs@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Once your registration form is received Councils Companion Animal team will be in contact to advise of payment options.

For other payment options, please call Council on 9847 6666.

Frequently asked questions

How can I change my microchip details?

Download and complete a change of details form.(PDF, 132KB) The form should then be sent to Hornsby Shire Council.

OR

Visit the NSW Pet Registry at https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry

How can I change the ownership of my cat or dog?

Download and complete a change of ownership form.(PDF, 543KB) The form should then be sent to Hornsby Shire Council.

OR

Visit the NSW Pet Registry at https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry

Are you advertising to sell or give away a cat or dog?

The laws have changed from 1 July 2019.

Download the How to sell or give away a cat or dog brochure(PDF, 569KB)

OR

Visit the Department of Primary Industries https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/animals/animal-welfare/advice/pets/dogs/selling-transferring

I can’t find my pet on the Pet Registry

There are a number of reasons why your pets microchip number cannot be found and you can’t ‘claim’ your pet:

  • The microchip number may not be entered correctly on the Register or may not be entered at all.
  • Your pet may be in the previous owner’s details or in the name of another member of your family (for you to claim your pet it must be in your name).
  • Your ownership details on the Register must correspond with the details on your licence e.g if the microchip details state ‘Dan Smith’ but your licence states ‘Daniel Smith’ then Mr Smith will not be able to claim his pet. If there are spaces in the phone numbers on the microchip then he will also not be able to claim his pet.
  • Your name must be your first name and surname only and the address must match exactly what is on your licence
  • If your pet is in two owner’s names you will not be able to claim your pet online

If this is the case, please phone us on 9847 6666 or e-mail dogs@hornsby.nsw.gov.au so we can help you.

All the information is entered correctly and I still can’t claim my pet

Please contact the Office of Local Government at pets@olg.nsw.gov.au.

The Register is asking me to pay the non-desexed price but my pet is desexed

Please send your desexing certificates/proof of desexing through to us at dogs@hornsby.nsw.gov.au and we will mark the microchip as desexed, you should then be able to pay the reduced desexed fee. Alternatively your vet should be able to mark the microchip for you if they have desexed your pet.

I am a pensioner with a desexed dog, or I have an Assistance Animal or Working Dog and I cannot register my pet online

Please contact us at Council on 9847 6666 or e-mail dogs@hornsby.nsw.gov.au as these registrations cannot be made online

The Pet Registry won’t work on my computer

The NSW Pet Registry has been developed to work on Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. However, the Registry website won’t work on versions of Internet Explorer and Safari that are no longer supported by Microsoft, which means you may have to switch browsers.

For more information and FAQ’s please visit https://www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au/#/faq.

Dog and cat registration fees

Dogs
Dog - Registration (by 12 weeks or when sold if earlier than 12 weeks) $80
Dog - Additional fee (if dog is not desexed by 6 months of age) $189
Dog - Registration (by eligible pensioner) $35
Dog - Desexed (sold/transferred from pound /shelter or rehoming Organisation) $0
Dog - Registrations (desexing not recommended) $80
Dog - Registrations (desexing not recommended eligible pensioner) $35
Dog - Registration (recognised breeder) $80
Dog - Working $0
Dog - Service of the State $0
Dog - Assistance Animal $0
Cats
Cat - Registration (by 12 weeks or when sold if earlier than 12 weeks of age) $70
Cat - Registration (eligible pensioner) $35
Cat – Registration (recognised breeder) $70
Cat - Desexed (sold/transferred from pound /shelter or rehoming Organisation $0
Cat - Registration (desexing not recommended) $70
Cat - Registration (desexing not recommended - eligible pensioner) $35
Cat – Registration late fee $23
Annual Permits
Cat (not desexed by four months of age) $99
Dangerous dog $236
Restricted dog $236
Permit late fee $23

Updated July 2025

For more information on registration fees please visit https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry/registration-and-permit-fees

Annual Permits - frequently asked questions

Annual Permits Form(PDF, 129KB)

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