20-26 New guidelines for registration agents
Category: Circular to Councils | Status: Active |
Circular Details: 20-26 / 30 June 2020/ A637765 | Contact: Program Delivery Team / 02 4428 4100 / olg@olg.nsw.gov.au |
Previous Circular: 18-26 | Attachments: Exercise of Functions Guidelines replaced by new Guidelines for Registration Agents |
Who should read this: General Managers / Rangers / Pounds / Finance | Action required: Council to Implement |
PDF Version: | Council Circular 20-26 – PDF |
What’s new or changing?
- New Guidelines for Registration Agents have been issued and partially replace the Guidelines on the Exercise of Functions under the Companion Animals Act.
- The Guidelines, issued under clause 13 of the Companion Animals Regulation 2018, outline the mandatory roles and responsibilities of registration agents appointed under the Companion Animals Act 1998.
- From 1 July 2020 the NSW Government will introduce annual permits for owners of non-desexed cats, restricted dog breeds, and dogs declared to be dangerous.
Key points
- The new Guidelines partially replace the Guidelines on the Exercise of Functions Guidelines in relation to:
- identification information (Chapter 4)
- registration information and fees (Chapter 5)
- changing the Register (part of Chapter 8)
- greyhounds and dingoes (part of Chapter 14), and
- paying and reconciling fees (Chapter 15).
- The attached table shows which chapters from the Exercise of Functions Guidelines have been replaced by the new Guidelines.
- The Guidelines reflect the NSW Pet Registry and legislative changes made since 2018.
- In 2018, the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 were amended by the Companion Animals and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018.
- Circular 18-26 advised councils about amendments that took effect in 2018.
- A new requirement for vets to ear-mark or tattoo desexed female cats and dogs took effect on 1 July 2019.
- The remaining amendments will come into effect from 1 July 2020, including:
- requiring annual permits for cats that are not de-sexed
- requiring annual permits for restricted and dangerous dogs.
- Also from 1 July 2020, a one-off $10 reduction in registration fees for cats will be made together with annual adjustments to reflect the Consumer Price Index.
- The Guidelines (at 5.5.28) advise that eligible pensioners that buy a pet from an eligible pound or shelter are entitled to access the cheapest registration fee.
- To the extent that the new Guidelines are inconsistent with the Exercise of Functions Guidelines, registration agents should apply the new Guidelines.
Where to go for further information
- New Guidelines for Registration Agents may be viewed at www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/responsible-pet-ownership/nsw-pet-registry/the-cat-and-dog-register/
- The Companion Animals and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2018 is at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2018/27
- The Companion Animals Regulation 2018 may be viewed at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2018/441
Tim Hurst
Deputy Secretary
Local Government, Planning and Policy