Companion Animals

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. For the vast majority of us our dogs and cats are our friends and companions. They are much loved members of our families. However, there are a small number of people who do not care for their animals responsibly. These animals often become a problem for the community.

The Companion Animals Act, which first came into effect in September 1998, is designed to benefit pets, their owners and the wider community.

The permanent identification and lifetime registration system which came into effect on 1 July 1999 greatly assists authorities in returning lost and injured animals to their owners. It provides NSW councils with a more effective means of keeping track of dogs and cats for the benefit of the wider community.

More than 150,000 dogs and cats are lost or stolen every year in NSW. Many are impounded because their owner cannot be contacted. Some may end up being rehomed or even destroyed. To decrease the number of pets that are euthanased each year, the Companion Animals Act requires that all NSW dog and cat owners have their pets permanently identified and registered for life.

Microchipping and Registration is a two part process that requires dog owners to:

  1. Have their animals implanted with a microchip from the time they are 12 weeks of age, at point of sale or change of ownership (whichever occurs first).
  2. Register their animals with their NSW local council by 6 months of age.

Please note: your dog is required by law, when in a public place, to have a collar around its neck with a tag attached that shows the dog's name and the address or phone number of the dog's owner.

In the interest of better management of Companion Animal, Brewarrina Shire Council adopted a Companion Animal Strategy and Procedure Plan at the 16 December 2011 Council Meeting