Free pet registration for rescue animals…

Free pet registration for rescue animals

A message from Minister Hancock - Office of Local Government, NSW Government

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring animals are well looked after throughout their lives and determined to deliver the best animal welfare standards.
 
I want to thank our local councils, alongside animal welfare and rehoming organisations, for the important role they play in managing companion animals across NSW.
 
I know only too well the challenges faced by pounds and animal shelters in finding forever homes for cats and dogs, especially with the increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
That’s why I am delighted to announce free pet registration for people who adopt a rescue pet from council pounds, animal shelters and rehoming organisations, to help ensure more dogs and cats find a forever home.
 
The initiative will encourage prospective pet owners to ‘adopt not shop’ for a dog or cat, ease the burden on council pounds and animalshelters, and reduce euthanasia rates in NSW.
 
In 2015, the NSW Government introduced a 50 per cent discount on lifetime pet registration fees for people who rescue dogs and cats from council pounds and animal shelters, which was extended to include rehoming organisations in 2018.

So far, more than 60,000 pet owners have saved over $1.8 million in reduced pet registration fees.
 

The NSW Government is committed to encouraging even more pet adoptions and that’s why we are now introducing free lifetime pet registration for people who adopt a rescue dog or cat.

General lifetime pet registration fees will increase by $5 to fund free pet registration for rescue pets, however, this will not apply to eligible pensioners.

The latest pound statistics reflect the commitment and dedication of councils, staff and volunteers in caring for our companion animals.

Figures collected from NSW councils for 2019-20 show that the number of animals entering pounds decreased by 15 per cent for dogs and almost 12 per cent for cats compared to the previous year.

They also show that 86 per cent of dogs and 60 per cent of cats were returned to their owners, rehomed or sold.
 
The NSW Government is committed to supporting our local councils to manage companion animals in their local communities and further improve these statistics.
 
That’s why the NSW Government is providing $5.8 million from the Companion Animals Fund to our 128 local councils in the 2021-22 financial year for companion animal management including pounds and shelters, ranger services, dog recreation areas, and education and awareness programs.

The fund is also used by the State Government to operate the NSW Pet Registry and carry out responsible pet ownership initiatives.
 
We also gave council pounds a $500,000 boost in May last year to help them with increased vet, staff and food costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The NSW Government has also introduced $80 annual permits for owners of non-desexed cats to encourage desexing to prevent unwanted litters, and lesson the burden on pounds and shelters.
 
We will continue to work with councils and animal welfare and rehoming organisations to promote responsible pet ownership and strengthen companion animal management across NSW.