New Laws for Dog and Cat Owner

Posted:: Thursday 26 Apr 2018

Please note the content of this news item is over six months old and may no longer be current.

New Dog and Cat Laws

New laws for dog and cat owners in South Australia will be introduced from 1 July this year.

The changes aim to improve the welfare of dogs and cats, make it easier to reunite owners with their lost pets, and simplify the registration process.

Key changes introduced by the Dog and Cat Management Board are:

All dogs and cats must be microchipped by 1 July 2018

All dogs and cats born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed

Introduction of centralised online registration, replacing Council registration

For details, visit the Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) section of the Dogs and Dog and Cat Management Board website.

Dog and Cat Management Board

Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) will be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for registration details, microchip and breeder information.

Cats do not need to be registered.

Marion Residents

Marion residents will be able to register their dogs from 13 July when renewal notices are distributed by the Dog and Cat Management Board. The notices will include instructions for online registration and a lifetime registration disc.

People without internet access can still register their dogs through the City of Marion.

More information is available on the Dog and Cat Management Board website.

Benefits of Microchipping

Reuniting lost pets with their owners
Owners are encouraged to take advantage of discount microchipping days. Visit chipblitz.com for dates and locations and to make a booking

Benefits of Desexing

Preventing unwanted litters

Reducing the number of dogs and cats being euthanised
Desexed dogs and cats roam less, can be less aggressive and less prone to certain diseases

Dogs and Cats Online

Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) is a one-stop online service for registration payments, microchipping and breeder information
Dogs and Cats Online has replaced the 68 individual council dog and cat registers and serves as a single online database, accessible 24/7
Pet owners can instantly update registration or microchip details if they move house or change phone numbers, and pay annual registration fees
Pensioners and other concession card holders can obtain discounts online. They will no longer need to travel the Administration Centre to pay registration fees

For more information, visit the Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) website (available mid July)

Fines

Increased fines can apply for owners who do not registers and microchip their pets.

New Rule for Breeders

New rules for breeders include:

Registering with the Dog and Cat Management Board
Adding their registration details to adverts
Adhering to new industry standards

The changes aim to reduce the number of unwanted pets and improve their welfare.