Dog and a Cat

Pet Registration

Contact Details
Customer Service
8571 1000
council@cgd.vic.gov.au

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.
  • If you are transferring a current registration from another Council to the City of Greater Dandenong, you can transfer the remainder of that registration free of charge. Simply provide current registration records from the council the pet is registered with.

How can I register my pet for the first time?

Only one of these applications is required. Residents can choose to complete an online application or a hardcopy application.

Online applications

Residents can now register their pets online. 

Step 1: Take photos of your:

  • Microchip certificate 
  • Desexing certificate (if your animal is desexed)
  • Pension card (if applicable)

Step 2: Complete online application form below

Complete a Pet Registration Form

Step 3: Upload the files when prompted. 

The application form will be processed as soon as possible and you will be sent a link either via email or SMS for easy, online payment. Please note: your pet is not registered until payment has been received. 

Hardcopy applications

Residents may wish to complete a hardcopy registration application form.

Step 1: Print out below application form below and complete details

Hardcopy Pet Registration Application - 195KB

Step 2: Take these documents to a Customer Service Centre

  • Microchip certificate 
  • Desexing certificate (if your animal is desexed)
  • Pension card (if applicable) 
  • Completed Registration form 

Step 3: Take all documents to a Customer Service Centre

Cat Registration Fees

Cats will be registered until 9 April 2026. All fees below include the $4.60 State Government Levy.

Name Standard fee Pensioner fee Description
Full fee $133.10 $63.60
Under 3 months of age $0 $0

No Charge
Reduced fee for cats $45.10 $24
  • Desexed
  • Member of an applicable organisation*
  • 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:

  • Feline Control Council
  • Australian National Cats, or
  • The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria
State Government Levy $4.60 $4.60

All fees include this levy
Current registration transferred from another municipality $0 $0

No fee until registration renewal
Adopted through recognised adoption program $0 $0

No fee until registration renewal

Dog Registration Fees

Dogs will be registered until 9 April 2026. All fees below include the $4.60 State Government Levy. 

Name Standard fee Pensioner fee Description
Full fee $191.10 $83.60
Reduced fees $66.60 $32.10

If dog is:

  • Desexed
  • Over 10 years of age
  • Kept for Working Stock
  • Undergone Obedience Training
  • Kept by a registered breeder
  • Member of an applicable organisation*

(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:

  • Dogs Victoria
  • Master Dog Breeders and Associates, or
  • Responsible Pet Breeders Australia
Under 3 months of age $0 $0

No Charge
Assistance dogs and Guide dogs $0 $0

No Charge
Restricted breeds and declared dangerous dogs $482.60 $482.60

(Includes guard dogs)
Declared Menacing dogs $291.60 $291.60
Adopted through recognised adoption program $0 $0

No fee until registration renewal
Current registration transferred from another municipality $0 $0

No charge until registration renewal
State Government Levy $4.60 $4.60

All fees include this levy.
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. 

eNotices

Residents can now enrol to have their renewal notice emailed straight to your nominated email address, saving paper, time, cost and effort.

Register for an eNotice

Once you get to the eNotice site you will need to:

  1. Enter your email address and reference number found on your renewal notice
  2. Check your email inbox and click the validation link
  3. Select a password and mobile number.

eNotices Information Sheet pdf 477kb

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
     

Pet Registration Change of Details form - 268KB

         Mail to: City of Greater Dandenong, PO Box 200, Dandenong 3175

What Pension Cards are eligible?

Pensioner Concession Card — issued by Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card — War Widow (WW).

Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card — Totally & Permanently Incapacitated (TPI).

Pension Cards pdf 1.5MB

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 and owners registered with Dogs Victoria, Master Dog Breeders and Associates, or Responsible Pet Breeders Australia

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

Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs

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

Assistance dogs are now also exempt from local council registration after legislative changes.

To be eligible for an assistance dog registration fee exemption, the assistance dog must meet the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 definition, being “a dog that is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effects of his or her disability”.

Additionally, the owner of an assistance dog is required to make a pet registration application to their council, providing reasonable evidence that:

  • the applicant has a disability that necessitates an assistance dog
  • the assistance dog has been trained to alleviate the effect(s) of the disability
  • the assistance dog has completed obedience training, as defined in the GiC Order
  • the assistance dog is at least 12-months old
  • the assistance dog is microchipped
  • the assistance dog is desexed

For further information on these guidelines, please visit the Animal Welfare Victoria’s website.

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

 

Refund policy

  • Refunds are only available within the first six months of the registration year, or within six months from the date when a pet is first registered with Council.
  • Refunds only available if amount is over $10 and do not include the State Government Levy.
  • Desexed/Obedience Trained pets - 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, the pet owner must notify Council in writing within six months from date of desexing/completion of training. A desexing/obedience training certificate will need to be provided.  The refund amount is the difference between the full fee and the reduced fee.
  • Deceased pets – Pet owner must notify Council in writing within six months from date of pet’s passing. 50 per cent of the fee will be paid.
  • If registration is paid prior to the commencement of the registration period, and the animal passes away before the new registration year starts, a full refund of the fee will be made.

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. Forms can be returned via email or post to: 

Mail:                               
City of Greater Dandenong
PO Box 200
Dandenong 3175

Pet Registration Change of Details form - 268KB

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

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Greater Dandenong City Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Bunurong People, and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their continuing connections to climate, Culture, Country and waters.