Dog and a Cat

Pet Registration

Why do I need to register my pet? 

  • The law requires all owners to register cats and dogs over three months with their local council
  • Registering cats and dogs greatly improves their chances of being returned to the owner if they become lost. The Domestic Animals Act 1994 prohibits the return of unregistered pets to the owner.
  • If a dog does become lost and Rangers can confirm it is currently registered, every attempt will be made to return the dog directly to the owner without the need to impound it.
  • Registering your pet provides Council access to a rich source of information to assist the community more effectively. This allows them to respond to calls of dogs wandering at large, dog attacks, nuisance barking, cat trespassing, stray and feral cat colonies control of dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs; monitor pet shops, boarding facilities and breeding establishments; establishing and monitoring dog off leash areas; and monitoring parks and reserves to maintain a safe environment for all users.
  • A portion of the fee goes to State Government (Bureau of Animal Welfare) to fund research and education into responsible pet ownership

Important information you need to register your pet for the first time

The law requires all owners of a cat or dog over 3 months old, to register it with Council. The registration period is from 10 April to 9 April each year. Failure to register or renew the registration of your pet can incur a penalty of over $300.

  • All cats and dogs must be microchipped before they can be registered.
  • Pets under three months old will be exempt of paying the registration fee, for the remainder of that registration period.
  • Pets adopted from recognised adoption agencies are exempt from the registration fee for the remainder of that registration period.
  • Having your pet desexed reduces the fee by 66 per cent for life. If your pet is desexed, you will need to provide the certificate for our records.
  • If you desex your pet within 1 month of paying the registration fee and provide the certificate, we will refund the difference.

For a new registration the following must be provided:

  • Completed Pet Registration form 

Pet Registration Application Form - 195KB

  • Must provide evidence of microchipping
  • Must provide acceptable evidence if your pet meets the criteria for reduced fee. Further details below. 

Cat Registration Fees

Cats will be registered until 9 April 2021. All fees below include the $4 State Government Levy.

Name Pensioner fee Standard fee Description
Full fee $54.60 $115.10
Under 3 months of age $0 $0

No Charge
Reduced fee for cats $20.70 $38.10
  • Desexed
  • Registered with FCC
  • Over 10 years of age
  • Kept by a registered breeder

Proof is required for discount. See the acceptable proof section below.

Cat and owner must be a member of the applicable organisation.
Adopted through recognised adoption program $0 $0

No fee until registration renewal

Dog Registration Fees

Dogs will be registered until 9 April 2021. All fees below include the $4 State Government Levy. 

Name Pensioner fee Standard fee Description
Full fee $72.10 $166.60
Reduced fees $27.10 $57.60

If dog is:

  • Desexed
  • Over 10 years of age
  • Kept for Working Stock
  • Undergone Obedience Training
  • Kept by a registered breeder
  • Registered with VCA

(Does not apply to Dangerous/Menacing/Restricted Breeds)

Proof is required for discount. See the acceptable proof section below.

Dog and owner must be a member of VCA/Dogs Vic
Under 3 months of age $0 $0

No Charge
Guide dog $0 $0

No Charge
Restricted breeds and declared dangerous dogs $420 $420

(Includes guard dogs)
Declared Menacing dogs $254 $254
Adopted through recognised adoption program $0 $0

No fee until registration renewal
On

Renew your pet registration

Pet registration is renewed by April 10 every year.

How to renew

You must renew your pet's registration by 10 April every year. We will send you a reminder before this date. There are many ways to pay for a registration renewal aside from the online option (see below). 

Pay your registration renewal online

You can pay your City of Greater Dandenong pet registration renewal fee via mygreaterdandenong.com. Payments can be made with a valid Visa or Mastercard.

Payments are processed in real time and you will be able to print out a confirmation number for your records. Your credit card details will not be retained on any database or file.

When paying your pet registration, enter your 1- 5 digit animal number, which is located under the barcode on both sections of your notice. The animal number is unique to each animal so if you have more than one registration to renew, please ensure you use the animal number specific for that pet. 

Online Renewal Form 
Please note this is for renewals only.

If your details or the pets details have changes, complete the change of details form and submit to Council as soon as possible.

  • Phone 8571 1000 to pay over the phone with a credit card
  • Pay via Bpay (see renewal slip for details)
  • Take your renewal invoice and payment in person to a Council Customer Service Centre or any Australia Post outlet
  • Return payment slip with a cheque/money order made out to 'City of Greater Dandenong' for the appropriate amount to the address below
     

Pet Registration Change of Details form - 268KB

         Mail:                               
         PO Box 200
         Dandenong 3175

Acceptable proof for reduced registration fee

Note: a letter or statutory declaration from the owner of the pet is not acceptable proof.

Dogs

Applicable Organisations

Dogs

  • Dogs registered with Dogs Victoria, if their owners are also members of the Dogs Victoria (certificate required).

Greyhound Dogs

  • If registered with Greyhound Racing Victoria, Council registration is not required

Desexed

  • Desexing certificate
  • Letter from vet confirming the animal is desexed
  • Confirmation from Council Ranger who has attended and examined the animal

10 years old 

  • Vet records
  • Certificate from vet 

Undergone obedience training and have a certificate recognised by the Victorian Canine Association Inc.

List of approved obedience trainers:


Kept for breeding by the proprietor of a domestic animal business on registered premises

  • Domestic Animal  Business permit required

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs trained by Guide Dogs Australia are exempt from Council registration.

Cats

Applicable Organisations

Cats - cats and owners registered with:

  • Australian National Cats Inc.
  • Feline Control Council (Victoria) Inc.
  • The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria Inc.

Desexed

  • Desexing certificate
  • Letter from vet confirming the animal is desexed
  • Confirmation from Council Ranger who has attended and examined the animal

Desexing policy

Pet owners who have paid full fee but desexed their pet within a month of registration may be eligible for the discounted rate: the difference will be refunded. Proof must be provided (see acceptable proof)

Desexing is expensive - can I get a discount?

Council is a proud supporter of the AVA/MAV discount desexing voucher scheme. 

How the voucher works

  • Eligible owners collect a voucher from a customer service centre and takes it to a participating vet practice
  • The vet practice offers a 25 per cent discount off their normal desexing fees
  • Once the animal has been desexed, the vet practice sends an invoice to the Council for a set fee (between $35 and $85 depending on the breed and gender of the animal) 
  • The owner pays the difference in cost after the 25 per cent discount and the council contribution have both been subtracted

Who is eligible?

Pet owners who hold one of the following concession cards (issued by Centrelink) are eligible:

  • Pension concession card
  • Health care card
  • Low income health care card
  • Commonwealth seniors health card

Conditions

  • The pet must be currently vaccinated before the vet will desex the animal
  • The pet must be currently registered with Council for a voucher to be issued (registration for pets under 3 months of age are free of charge until the following 9 April renewal date)
  • A maximum of two vouchers will be issued per household

Desexing Voucher Information Sheet - 163KB

Desexing Voucher rate Form - 195KB

Refund policy

  • Refunds are only available within the first 6 months of the registration year or if the pet owner acquires a new pet during the current registration year. This registration may be transferred to the new pet at no cost.
  • For a deceased pet – 50 per cent refund of fee paid (must be over $10).
  • Where registration has already been paid and a pet has subsequently been desexed or trained in accordance with the requirements of the Domestic Animals Act Regulations, the refund is the difference between the full fee and the reduced fee.
  • Should a person pay registration fee/s prior to commencement of the registration period and the subject pet dies before that period commences, a full refund shall be made.  The refund shall be subject to provision of evidence of the pet’s death.

Updating my pet registration details

Change of details

If your details or the details of the pet have changed, complete the change of details form and submit to Council as soon as possible. You can send the form via email or post to: 

Mail:                               
PO Box 200
Dandenong 3175

Pet Registration Change of Details form - 268KB

Name
www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au
Phone
8571 1000
Email
council@cgd.vic.gov.au

City of Greater Dandenong

Dandenong Civic Centre

225 Lonsdale Street

Dandenong

Victoria Australia 3175

Haven't found what you need?

Contact us on 8571 1000 or council@cgd.vic.gov.au

Keen to keep up with what's happening in Greater Dandenong?

Subscribe

The City of Greater Dandenong respectfully acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land. We recognise and respect their continuing connections to climate, culture and Country.