Dogs and Cats
South Australian dog and cat owners must abide by the laws set out in the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995. This includes following a number of laws to ensure your dog or cat is not a nuisance or danger to the community. To see your legal responsibilities, understand what has changed, or learn more about owning, buying, selling or breeding dogs and cats, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board.
All dogs aged three months or over must be registered, desexed and microchipped (unless exempt by a vet). For more information, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board and read about Registering Dogs. All dogs must be registered in Dogs and Cats Online. Cats do not need to be registered, but you can record your cat in Dogs and Cats Online for free, using its microchip number.
Lost Dogs
Council is committed to re-connecting lost dogs with their owners. To report a dog missing phone Council on 8525 3200. Council also recommends dog owners who have lost a dog to:
- regularly check the impounded dogs list, social media and other agencies such as the Animal Welfare League - Found Pets, RSPCA, or local veterinary clinics for notification of found dogs, and
- use your network. This could include posting on your Facebook or on lost and found sites such as Lost Pets of South Australia.
Wandering Dogs
Dogs that are registered, wearing their discs and are microchipped can be identified and returned.
Dogs are collected by Council during office hours, 9:00am to 5:00pm. To advise Council of a wandering dog, phone 8525 3200.
If a dog is found wandering after office hours or on weekends and the finder is not able to contain the dog, phone the University of Adelaide Veterinary Health Centre on 8313 1999 who may be able to assist.
Lost Cats
Council do not impound cats. For lost cats regularly check social media and other agencies such as the Animal Welfare League - Found Pets, RSPCA, or local veterinary clinics for notification of found cats.
Council currently has the following dogs impounded:
Fees and charges, as well as expiations may apply.
Council takes dog attacks very seriously. The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 outlines offences for which dog owners can be expiated.
To report a dog attack or incident, please Contact Us. If you need immediate assistance, phone the General Inspector on 8525 3200 (until 9pm); or if unable to contact Council phone the South Australian Police on 131 444.
For information on how Council responds to dog attacks, you can view the Responding to Dog Attacks: Investigations and Outcomes fact sheet.
Barking is a natural behaviour in dogs. However, excessive, prolonged or repetitive barking can be an issue that needs to be addressed.
If you are a dog owner and want to learn about how you can keep your dog happy to reduce or alleviate the problem, read Keeping Your Dog Happy.
If you have a barking dog problem, read about what you need to do before you Contact Us to make a formal complaint.
To complete a transfer of ownership, update an animal's status or details, you will need to visit Dogs and Cats Online.
Council has a by-law which limits the number of dogs and cats per premise. To keep more than the allowed number you need to Contact Us.
| As per Schedule of Fees | Standard | Rebate | Concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not desexed and microchipped | $77.00 | n/a | $37.50 |
| Desexed and microchipped | $38.50 | $22.50 | |
| Desexed only | $45.00 | $22.50 | |
| Microchipped only | $67.50 | $33.75 | |
| Working dog | $25.00 | ||
| Racing greyhound | $25.00 | ||
| Business registration (per dog) | $25.00 | ||
| Assistance dog | Free | ||
| Replacement registration disc | $10.00 | ||
| Late registration renewal fee (if paid after 31st August) | $20.00 | ||
| Dog impounding | $110.00 | ||
| Dog impounding - daily holding (weekdays) | $23.00 | ||
| Dog impounding - daily holding (weekends) | $42.00 |
Eligibility for Rebate or Concession
To be eligible for a rebate you must have proof of desexing, microchipping, business registration or an assistance dog identity card. For concession you will need to provide a current card i.e., Pensioner; Commonwealth Seniors Health; Health Care; or Department of Veterans' Affairs Card (Gold Card).
Refunds
If your dog has passed, you may be eligible for a registration refund. To see if you are eligible read the Dog Registration Refund Policy. To apply for a refund, Contact Us.
Expiation Fees and Fines
If you are found guilty of an offence under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 you may be issued with an expiation fee or fine.
The dog and cat management plan provides guidance for the management of dogs and cats across the region. It has been prepared in accordance with the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and approved by the Dog and Cat Management board.
Couldn't find what you were looking for? No worries, Contact Us.