Why must I register my pet?
To help keep pets safe, all pet owners are required by law to microchip and register cats and dogs with their local council once they are three months of age. Having a registration identification can assure animals are quickly returned to their owners.
With more than 7500 dogs and 1500 cats registered in the Mildura Rural City Council Area, we utilise pet registrations to reunite pets with their owners without having to be impounded.
To register, your pet needs to be microchipped and the microchip number must be included on your application form. The Domestic Animals Act 1994 outlines the requirements to register your pet.
Registering your dog or cat greatly improves their chances of being returned to you. Registration renewal fees also go toward providing a range of other important services and facilities such as:
- Dog parks and dog poo bins
- Pounds and shelter facilities
- Registration tags for each of your registered animals
- Reuniting lost animals
- Investigation of animal related complaints and emergencies
- Providing Council's responsible pet ownership programs
- Monitoring of pet shops, boarding kennels, catteries, pounds, shelters and other Domestic Animal Businesses
- Investigations into animal welfare issues
Which pets are eligible for Council’s free, first-time pet registration program?
Mildura Rural City Council offers FREE pet registrations for first-timers for the period up until April each year.
Pet owners are eligible if:
- Your pet has not previously been registered in the Mildura Rural City Council Area
- Your pet has no prior history of enforcement or prosecution
- Your pet has not been involved in an attack involving enforcement or prosecution
- Your pet must not be declared dangerous, menacing or a restricted breed
All pets over three months of age must be registered – this can be done several ways, including:
- Visiting mildura.vic.gov.au/pets
- Visiting our Deakin, Madden or Ouyen Service Centres
What happens after I have registered?
If there are any queries with your registration, a Council officer will contact you to discuss. Otherwise, we will automatically issue you with a lifelong registration tag which must be worn by your animal when it is outside your property. Your registration tag will be mailed to you within seven days of your registration being received.
How do I renew my registration?
All animal registrations expire on 10 April each year. If your details have changed, you no longer live in Mildura, or your animal is no longer with you, please notify us.
You will receive a registration renewal approximately four weeks prior to the registration expiring. You must pay the renewal fee by 10 April each year.
If you haven't received your renewal notice, contact Mildura Rural City Council on 03 5018 8100 during business hours
How do I replace a lost or damaged registration tag?
When you register your animal we will issue you with a registration tag which must be worn by your animal when it is outside your property.
If your dog or cat has lost their tag, you can get a replacement tag by contacting Mildura Rural City Council on 03 5018 8100, or by visiting one of our Customer Service Centres.
If the tag is damaged, it can also be returned to us and be replaced free of charge.
What is microchipping?
A microchip provides a permanent form of identification which can quickly reunite owners with lost or injured pets. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is electronically imprinted with a unique number which can be picked up by an electronic scanner.
Vets, animal welfare organisations and other authorised people can microchip your pet. All cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered by three months of age.
What is a menacing, dangerous or restricted breed?
Dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are treated differently by law.
- Dangerous dogs are declared because they have attacked, are used for guarding, or have been trained to attack.
- Menacing dogs are declared because they have attacked a person or animal, causing minor injury, or because they have rushed at or chased someone.
- Restricted breed dogs are declared if they are a particular breed, not because they have attacked. They may have never displayed any signs of aggression, but have been deemed to be a higher risk to the community.
Restricted breed dogs are defined as dogs that fit the Approved Standard for Restricted Breed Dogs in Victoria (standard). These may be pure or cross bred:
- American Pit Bull Terriers (or Pit Bull Terriers)
- Perro de Presa Canarios (or Presa Canario)
- Dogo Argentinos
- Japanese Tosas
- Fila Brasileiros
Owners of dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are subject to strict requirements. Due to extra legal requirements, these dogs can't be registered the same way ordinary dogs can be. Each application is considered by Mildura Rural City Council before being accepted.
If you would like to register one of these dogs you must complete a registration application form and return it following the instructions on the form.