Did you know that your pet needs to be microchipped and registered?

The Companion Animals Act 1998 introduced compulsory lifetime registration in an attempt to minimise the unnecessary destruction of dogs and cats in particular.  It provides a uniform system for all of NSW and statistics show a considerable increase in the numbers of animals reunited with their owners.  It also serves as a deterrent for owners who may allow their animals to stray.  It further encourages responsible pet ownership by offering a considerable reduction in the cost of registration for desexed animals.

Microchips can be implanted by most veterinarians and authorised identifiers. Click here for contact details for veterinarians and authorised identifiers in Bathurst.

Registration fees apply to all dogs and cats over 6 months of age excluding working dogs, recognised assistance animals and cats born before 1997.  For a list of the applicable fees please click here.  These fees are set by the NSW State Government and are reviewed annually.  Council receives a percentage of the registration fees collected.  This money is used for eductional and desexing programs.

The registration fee applicable to a desexed animal is significantly reduced.  This is mainly to encourgae pet owners to desex their animals for various reasons, including:

• avoiding unwanted pregnancies,
• avoiding future medical problems, for example prostrate problems, pyometra, mammary cancer etc
• reduces aggression in male dogs,
• reduces the incidents of cats fighting late at night
  

To register your pet you need to come to the Environmental, Planning & Building Services counter at Bathurst Regional Council.  You must bring your original microchipping paperwork, proof of desexing if claiming the desexed animal rate, and your pension card (if applicable).  You will need to fill out a registration form, pay the applicable fee and you will then receive your Lifetime Registration Certificate.