Updating your cat or dog's details on the NSW Companion Animals Register

Your local council is responsible for updating the information on the NSW Companion Animals Register. You must notify your local council of changes to information about you or your cat or dog held on the NSW Companion Animals Register.

There is no charge to update this information on the NSW Companion Animals Register. However, if you fail to notify your local council or you knowingly give false or misleading information, you could be penalised up to $880 or $5,500 for a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog.

• I am selling or giving away my cat or dog - what do I need to do?
• I have bought or been given a cat or dog but have not received any paperwork - what should I do?
• My cat or dog's microchip number is not listed on the NSW Companion Animals Register - what should I do?
• I have changed my name - what do I need to do?
• I am moving - what do I need to do?
• My cat or dog has died - what do I need to do?
• Should I list my cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database?

I am selling or giving away my cat or dog - what do I need to do?

If you are selling or giving your cat or dog away, you must notify your local council within 14 days using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form. Both you and the new owner must sign the form.

You must then submit the form, with the animal's Certificate of Identification or Registration, or copy of the Permanent Identification (P1A) form to your local council so that the information on the NSW Companion Animals Register can be updated. Change of Owner/Details (C3A) forms are available form your local council or by clicking on the above link.

Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, you cannot advertise for sale, sell or give your dog away if it is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog. If you advertise for sale, sell or give your dog away and it is a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog, you may be fined $16,500 for each offence.

I have bought or been given a cat or dog but have not received any paperwork - what should I do?

If you have bought or been given a cat or dog and you have not received any paperwork regarding the transfer of ownership on the NSW Companion Animals Register, you should contact the previous owner to ensure a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) form is sent to council.

If you cannot contact the previous owner, contact your local council who will advise on what documentation they require to transfer ownership of the cat or dog into your name. Your local council may require you to provide a statutory declaration establishing your claim to ownership, together with any supporting documents, such as a signed sales receipt.

My cat or dog's microchip number is not listed on the NSW Companion Animals Register - what should I do?

If you have had your cat or dog microchipped in NSW, the Authorised Identifier must either enter the information onto the NSW Companion Animals Register and issue you a Certificate of Identification, or send the information to your local council for data entry within three days of implanting the microchip.

The local council must enter the information onto the NSW Companion Animal Register within seven days of receipt of the information and issue you a Certificate of Identification. If you have not received your certificate or you have concerns about the accuracy of the information on the NSW Companion Animals Register, you should take any documentation you have to your local council.

I have changed my name - what do I need to do?

If you have changed your name, you must notify your local council within 14 days using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) form.

I am moving - what do I need to do?

If you are moving within NSW, to another state or overseas, you must notify your local council within 14 days of your change of address using a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form. Alternatively, you may use a Change of Address Notice (C3C) Form.

Interstate and overseas residents only that previously resided in NSW and failed to notify their local NSW council prior to moving should complete and post a Change of Owner/Details (C3A) Form or a Change of Address Notice (C3C) Form, to:

NSW Companion Animals Register
Locked Bag 3030
NOWRA NSW 2541
AUSTRALIA

Whenever you are updating your contact details on the NSW Companion Animals Register, remember to advise any privately-operated national microchip databases on which your animal may also be listed.

My cat or dog has died - what do I need to do?

If your cat or dog has died, you must notify your local council within 28 days (or 24 hours in the case of a restricted dog or a declared dangerous dog) of its death.

Notification may be by telephone or in writing by email or letter to your local council. In the case of a restricted or declared dangerous dog council may require you to provide documentary evidence from a veterinary practitioner that your dog has died.

Should I list my cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database?

The NSW Companion Animals Register is a NSW Government database, to which authorities in other states do not have access. If you are moving or travelling interstate, you may be required under another state's legislation to list your cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database.

In addition, if you live near a NSW state border or simply for added protection of your cat or dog if it is lost, hurt or stolen outside NSW, you may wish to list your cat or dog on a privately-operated national microchip database:

Privately-operated national microchip databases also accept other animals, such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and horses, which are not covered by the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 and cannot be listed on the NSW Companion Animals Register.

Privately-operated national microchip databases are not linked to the NSW Companion Animals Register. Whenever you are updating your contact details on the NSW Companion Animals Register, remember to advise any privately-operated national microchip databases on which your cat or dog may also be listed.

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