Cat and dog registration

Register your pet

Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 all cats and dogs more than three months of age must be microchipped and registered with Council.

The registration year is from 11 April to 10 April the following year. The 2021/22 registration period will start from 15 February 2021 and any new registration will be valid until 10 April 2022.

Registrations made on or after 10 October are charged a half price fee. These registrations are valid until the end of the current registration year.  

Registering your dog or cat greatly improves their chances of being returned to you if they become lost. 

If you have all the required information and documents, you can register your pet online.

Before you start your online registration, please ensure you:

• Are over the age of 18
• Are not registering a restricted breed, dangerous, menacing or guard dog
• Are not registering more pets than allowed without a permit
• Have proof of microchipping (Desexing Certificate, Veterinary Report or Statutory Declaration from you confirming your pet is microchipped)
• Have proof of eligible pension if applicable (Pension Card, Veterans Affairs File or TPI entitlement). To calculate this fee you must enter select the relevant Pension Type and enter the Pension Card Number on the Owner Details page of the online form
• Have proof of desexing if applicable (Desexing Certificate, Veterinary Report or Statutory Declaration from you confirming your pet is desexed). To calculate this fee you must select Yes for the Desexed question on the Animal Details page of the online form
• Have proof that your pet is over 10 years old if applicable (Desexing Certificate, Veterinary Report or Statutory Declaration from you confirming your pet is over 10 years old). To get the fee reduction, you must select 10 years or over from the Other Reduced Fees drop down on the Animal Details page of the online form.

Please make sure all the correct details and documents are provided before accepting the declaration and making payment on the online form. No refunds will be processed once submitted.

For multiple pets you will need to submit one online registration per pet. 

Once you submit online, your application will be processed by our Compliance Administration team. If all details and supporting documentation are correct you will receive your pet’s new tag and confirmation of registration in the post a few days later.

Please be aware that any false information provided may result in your pet being unregistered and may incur enforcement action and penalties.

Renew your pet registration

Council sends an Animal Registration Renewal Notice each year when your pet registration is due for renewal. The fee must be paid by 9 April each year, regardless of when you have paid your initial registration fee.

If you do not receive a Registration Renewal Notice please contact Council by emailing animal.management@whittlesea.vic.gov.au for more information.

Update your animal registration details

Fill out the form below to update your animal registration details.

Registration fees

A range of registration fees apply depending on if you are eligible for reduced fees, or hold a pension card.

If you are registering your pet for the first time, we charge a pro-rata rate according to the time of year when you register.

All registrations are due for renewal on 9 April each year, and must be full year registrations.

To see the full list of current pet registration fees, download the Animal registration form.  

Registration refunds

You may be entitled to a registration refund if your pet cat or dog has died or you have had to surrender it to the Epping Animal Welfare Facility.

• You can receive a full refund if your pet has died or been surrendered by 30 June in the current registration year.
• You can receive a 50 per cent refund if your pet has died or been surrendered between 30 June and 10 October of the current registration year. Where the pet owner is an eligible pension card holder, a pro rata refund will be offered throughout the remainder of the registration year.

How to apply:

All applications must be in writing either by letter or email to info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Include your pet’s name, animal number or tag number and the address.

If your pet has passed away please attach a copy of a vet report or a statutory declaration confirming the date of death.

If your animal was surrendered to the Epping Animal Welfare Facility please attach a copy of the release form.

Once the application is received it may take up to 3 weeks to receive a refund cheque.

Compulsory microchipping

State Government legislation requires that all pets being registered for the first time, or transferring from another council are microchipped before registration.

Registration tags

When you register your pet, you are given a numbered identification tag to be attached to its collar. Your pet must wear the tag at all times.

If your pet loses its identification marker, request a new one by calling us on 9217 2170 (fees may apply).

Owners of registered pets found without their tag face an on-the-spot fine or may face legal proceedings and have to pay a court imposed penalty.

Moving from another municipality

When you move into the City of Whittlesea, you must apply to register your pet with us by submitting an application form.

If you provide a receipt as proof that your animal is currently registered with another Council in Victoria, there will be no fee for the transfer.

Please note: if your dog is not microchipped, your dog must be microchipped prior to submitting an application form.

Register your Guide or Government Authority Dog

To register a guide dog or government authority dog for free you will need the relevant supporting documentation.

You can apply by completing the animal registration form.

Once your application has been processed by our Compliance Administration team, if all details and supporting documentation are correct, you will receive your pet’s new tag and confirmation of registration in the post a few days later.

Not renewing pet registration

Owners of unregistered pets face an on-the-spot fine, or may face legal proceedings and have to pay a court imposed penalty.

If your pet has passed away or you've moved outside of the City of Whittlesea, you must notify us to update your animal registration details.

Change of animal owner

If you take over ownership of a cat or dog that is already registered in the City of Whittlesea, complete and submit our Change of ownership form.

This will ensure you do not need to re-register your new pet.

Central Animal Records

Once you have registered your pet with us, you should also make sure their details are provided to Central Animal Records which is an accredited microchip registry. Having your pet's details updated with them can assist in the recovery of your pet if they go missing.