Register Your Pet

In accordance with the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all dogs and cats three months and older must be registered with the Council in which they reside.

Animal Registration Fees (full year)

Registration Fees - Valid until 10 April 2026	Standard Fee	Concession Fee
Restricted breed dog, declared dangerous dog or declared menacing dog.	$360.00	Not Eligible
Unsterilised dog or cat (microchipped only).	$180.00	$90.00
Sterilised (desexed) dog or cat; Dog or cat over 10 years old; Working dog (kept specifically for working stock); Hound registered with the GMA that is microchipped; Dog kept for breeding at Registered Domestic Animal Business; Member of an applicable organisation (dog or cat registered with an applicable organisation of which the owner is also a current member); Dog has undergone obedience training with an approved organisation;	$60.00	$30.00
Transfer or current registration from another Victorian Council (copy of current registration from previous Council must be provided).	Free
Guide Dogs; Assistance Dogs (eligibility criteria apply);	Free

State Government Levy
Registration fees include the State Government Levy pursuant to the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

What information do I need to provide?
Any dog or cat being registered with Council must be microchipped. The microchip number needs to be provided at the time of application.

If claiming a reduced fee registration, you will need to provide copies of the relevant documentation. Eg: desexing certificate, statutory declaration, pensioner concession card.

If you are registering through our online portal, make sure you have scanned/digital copies of relevant supporting documents for new pet registration ready to upload.

Applications that do not provide sufficient proof for a reduced registration fee will be held until sufficient proof is provided, or the full applicable fee will be required.

Pensioner concessions
The State Government provides financial assistance (under the Domestic Animals Act 1994) to eligible recipients/ pensioners (within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004) in respect to animal registrations. The following cardholders are eligible for pensioner rate concession for animal registrations:

• Pensioner Concession Card (Services Australia/Centrelink)
• Pensioner Concession Card (Department of Veterans' Affairs)
• DVA Gold Repatriation Health Card – TPI
• DVA Gold Repatriation Health Card - War Widow

Applicable Organisations
Australian National Cats Inc, Dogs Victoria, Feline Control Council (Victoria) Inc, The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia & Victoria Inc, Game Management Authority, Master Dog Breeders & Associates, Responsible Pet Breeders Australia.

Approved Obedience Training Organisations
Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc, The Kintala Dog Club Association Inc, Delta Institute.

My animal isn’t desexed yet but will be within 3 months
If your dog or cat is not currently desexed but you plan to do so within the next 3 months, please register them using the 'Full Fee' option. Once your pet has been desexed, send a copy of the desexing certificate to Council within 3 months of registration and a refund of the difference in fees will be arranged once the certificate has been processed.

Transferring my registration
Have you recently moved to South Gippsland and your dog or cat is currently registered with your previous Council?

We will waive the registration fee if you’re moving from another Victorian Council and have already paid your registration for the current registration period. Proof of current registration will need to be uploaded with your application.

Refunds
In some circumstances, Council will issue a refund of registration fees within 3 months of first registration date (or by 10 July for renewal registrations).

Declared Dangerous or Menacing Dogs
If your dog has previously been declared as dangerous or menacing, please upload a copy of the declaration letter from the declaring council, as well as any additional supporting documentation.

Have you notified your previous Council of your relocation to South Gippsland? This is a legislated requirement of owning a declared dog, as they will need to update your details on the Victorian Declared Dog Register.

Restricted Breed Dogs
Restricted breed dogs are defined as dogs that fit the “Approved Standard for Restricted Breed Dogs in Victoria”. These may be a pure or cross bred American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier), Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario), Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, or Fila Brasileiro.

Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs may be registered for free with Council if the owner meets all of the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for free registration, the owner of an assistance dog must demonstrate that:

• they have a disability as defined under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• the assistance dog is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist to alleviate the effect(s) of that disability (as per the definition of assistance dog under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010).

In addition to the above, an assistance dog must also:

• be desexed.
• be microchipped.
• be at least 12 months of age.
• be proven to have completed obedience training provided by a dog trainer. Note: The obedience training can either be completed separately, or as part of the training undertaken to perform tasks or functions that assist the person with a disability to alleviate the effects of their disability.
• not be a dangerous, menacing, or restricted breed dog.

Learn more about the Assistance Animal registration scheme online at Animal Welfare Victoria. 

Unregistered animals
We conduct random door-knocks throughout the area to check for unregistered animals. Owners of any unregistered dogs and cats may receive an infringement notice.

Keeping extra animals
If you have more than two dogs and/or two cats, you need to apply for a permit to keep multiple pets.

Pet identification tags
We provide lifetime tags for pet registration. Your pet should wear the tag at all times. Fines apply if your pet is found outside your premises without its council tag.

If you damage or lose a tag, contact us on 5662 9200 for a replacement.

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 website
• online through BPAY
• by phone on 5662 9200 (8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
• in person at any Australia Post office
• in person at one of our customer service centres – 9 Smith Street, Leongatha (Monday and Wednesday) or 15 Little Commercial Street, Korumburra (Tuesday and Thursday)

Microchip Registries

If you are unsure which registry your pet’s microchip is lodged with, please go to www.petaddress.com.au, enter your pet’s microchip details and search.
If the microchip is registered with any of the registries listed below, you will need to contact that registry to update your details.

• Central Animal Records (CAR) – https://car.com.au or phone 03 9706 3187
• Australasian Animal Registry (AAR) – https://www.aar.org.au or phone 02 9704 1450
• PetSafe – https://www.petsafe.com.au or phone 02 8850 6800
• Global Micro Animal Registry – https://www.globalmicro.com.au or phone 02 8338 9063
• Home Safe ID – this registry is NO LONGER OPERATIONAL – if your pet’s microchip was registered with Home Safe ID, you will need to register their microchip with one of the microchip registries listed above.

Updates to yours or your pet’s details
If you move house, update your phone or email address, rehome your pet, your pet passes away, or if you’ve just lost your pet’s tag, please call us on 5662 9200 and we can help you.