Companion animals

Companion animal management services

There are more than 25,000 dogs and cats registered as living in Ku-ring-gai.

Council aims to recognise and balance the needs of pet owners and non-pet owners in the natural and built environment and to promote optimal environment for people and animals to live harmoniously together. Council also encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998.

The NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 and supporting Regulation 2018 aims to protect pets, handlers and the wider community. The act outlines the duties and responsibilities of owners and others in charge of domestic  dogs and cats. The Regulation outlines the actions and penalties that can be enforced by councils if owners do not comply with these requirements.

Companion Animal Management Plan 2017 to 2020(PDF, 321KB)

Rules for advertising pets for sale or to give away

The NSW Government introduced rules for advertising pets for sale or to give away in July 2019.

Advertising in newspapers or on social media must carry the following information:

If the dog or cat is aged 12 weeks or older, the microchip number.

OR

The breeder’s identification number.

OR

The rehoming identification number.

A microchip number search provides information about what the owner has recorded as the breed, sex and age of the cat or dog, whether it is desexed and whether or not it is already registered.

A breeder identification number search will display any recorded business names to help make informed purchasing decisions and support good animal welfare outcomes.

A rehoming organisation number search will display the name and address of the relevant rehoming organisation.

According to the government, those selling or giving away a pet without including this information can be fined up to $5,500.

For more information about the new rules visit the NSW Government website.