Register your dog or cat

Why should you register your pet?

By law, you must register your dog or cat if it’s more three months old. If you don’t register your pet, you could receive a fine.

Registration is also a great way to ensure your pet’s safety – you have a much better chance of finding a lost pet if it’s registered.

It’s also now mandatory for all dogs and cats to be implanted with an approved identification device (microchip) before they’re registered.

Get more details on legal requirements and penalties in our General information sheet (PDF, 212KB).

Register a new dog or cat

If you want to register a new dog or cat, please register your pet online or complete our Animal registration form (PDF, 104KB).

There are fewer payment options for new registrations, as you need to do a few extra things.

If you’re registering a dog or cat for the first time, your payment options are:

• by mail
• in person at our Service Centre, Glen Eira Town Hall, corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads Caulfield

For your protection and compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, we won’t accept your application form by e-mail if it contains your credit card details.

Registration fees

When reduced fees apply 

You’re also eligible for reduced fees the following:

• Dogs or cats more than 10 years old.
• Desexed dogs or cats.
• Dogs that have undergone obedience training, which complies with the regulations: Obedience Incentive.  
• Dogs kept for working stock.
• Dogs or cats kept for breeding by the proprietor of a domestic animal business that is conducted at the registered premises.
• Membership to the following approved organisations:
  • Dogs Victoria
  • Australian National Cats Inc.
  • Feline Control Council of Victoria Inc.
  • The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria Inc.
  • Master Dog Breeders and Associates
  • Responsible Pet Breeders Australia.

Renewing your pet registration

You’ll receive your registration renewal notice in March. You can submit your mobile phone number, as we send text message reminders when your renewal is due.

If you’re renewing your pet registration, your payment options are:

• online through our payment portal
• online through BPAY
• by phone
• in person at any Australia Post office

If you move house, your animal passes on, or if you’ve just lost your tag, call us on 9524 3333 and we will update your status.

How many dogs and cats can you have without a permit?

You can keep up to two dogs and/or two cats on a property without a Permit. If you want to keep three or more dogs or three or more cats, you will need to apply for a Multiple Pet Permit (PDF, 49KB). The application fee is $76.80.

You can also keep up to six poultry and 20 pigeons on a property without a permit, but you must remember your obligations under the Community Local Law 2019. To learn more, see Part 11 of the Community Local Law.

What other animal permits may be required under the Community Local Law 2019?

You can keep up to two of the following different types of animals (dogs, cats, poultry and pigeons) on a property without a Permit.

You can also keep up to six poultry and 20 pigeons on a property without a Permit.

If you want to keep more than six poultry or 20 pigeons or three or more of the following different types of animals (dogs, cats, poultry and pigeons) on your property then you will need a Permit.

You will need a Permit to keep any General Livestock or a horse on your property. General Livestock includes a rooster, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat or a pig of any age.

Please see table below displaying the allowable amount of animals that can be kept on a property by animal type without a Permit.