Dog and cat registration

Update 24 February 2023: Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) website is undergoing system maintenance and is unavailable. 
Please contact us on 8397 7313 during business hours for assistance to register or update your dog and/or cat details.

Dogs

All dogs aged three months or over, living on a property for longer than 14 days must be registered with Council. Once your dog is registered, you will receive a registration notice and a grey plastic tag with your dog's registration number. You only receive a tag once, as your dog's registration number stays with it for life. You may choose to engrave the registration number on a metal tag with your name and phone number.

Cats

Council does not charge cat registration fees. Your cat's microchip number should be provided to you by your vet, microchip implanter, shelter or breeder. If you don't have a record of the microchip number, contact who you bought or adopted the cat from. 

Mandatory microchipping and desexing

All dogs and cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks (3 months) of age. This applies to all dogs and cats unless exempted by a vet. All dogs and cats born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed by a registered veterinary surgeon before they are 6 months of age; or within 28 days after an owner takes possession of a puppy or kitten.

Renewing registration and renewals

All dog, cat, breeder and business registrations expire on 30 June each year.

Registration renewal notices are sent out in July to be paid by 31 August. Late fees apply for payments made after 31 August.

Registration renewal notices will be sent via SMS, email or post.

You won't be able to renew the registration until you receive your renewal notice as a unique renewal code is required when registering. Contact us if you need help. If your renewal notice has not arrived by August contact us on 8397 7313

Cat owners who have recorded their cat's microchip number in DACO will receive a notice each July to remind them to check their details are up-to-date.

What you need before you start

  • Renewal notice for 2022/23
  • Desexing, microchipping and training certificates - if you have not previously provided them
  • Debit or credit card. If you are unable to pay electronically, please visit Council's Civic Centre to complete the registration renewal.

View the video to help guide you through the process.

Go to DACO website

Registering as a new owner

What you need before you start: 

  • Valid concession card - if applicable
  • Microchip number, desexing ID or Transfer Code if applicable
  • Desexing, microchipping and training certificates
  • Debit or credit card. If you are unable to pay electronically, please visit Council's Civic Centre to complete the registration.

 View the video to help guide you through the process. 

Go to DACO website

Concession cards accepted

  • Pensioner Concession card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health card
  • Health Care card
  • DVA Health Card (Gold Card)

Update your details in DACO

It is important to keep your details in DACO up-to-date.

Login to DACO website to:

  • Update your personal details 
  • Change your address
  • Update your animal's microchipping, desexing or training details
  • Update the status of your animal to lost or deceased if your animal has passed away. 

Go to DACO website

Complete a microchip record

After purchasing a microchipped puppy or kitten from a breeder, new owner must complete the registration in their name.

What you need before you start: 

  • Valid concession card - if applicable
  • Microchip number, desexing ID or Transfer Code if applicable
  • Desexing, microchipping and training certificates
  • Debit or credit card. If you are unable to pay electronically, please visit Council's Civic Centre to complete the registration.

 Go to DACO website

Transfer a dog or cat to another owner

Go to DACO website

  1.  Log in using your email address - if you can't remember your password, select 'Forgotten your password' to set a new one
  2. Select Commence ownership transfer
  3. Select animal to transfer
  4. Select 'Initiate transfer'
  5. Enter the new owner's details - including email or mobile number
  6. Select OK to transfer
  7. Provide transfer code to new owner
    New owners must be provided the certificate of registration (renewal notice), registration disc last issued and transfer code.

Accepting a transfer

Go to DACO website

  1.  Login and select 'Complete ownership transfer'
  2. Enter the transfer code provided by previous owner
  3. Complete required information

Breeder/pedigree membership registration

All South Australian breeders and sellers of dogs and cats are required to register with Dog and Cat Management Board. Membership registration numbers must be displayed on advertisements for sale of dogs/cats and membership registration number is to be provided to all buyers.  

Go to DACO website

  1.  Login using your email address and secure password - select 'Forgotten your password' if you need to reset it
  2. Select 'Breeder/Pedigree Membership Registration'
  3. Complete breeder registration questions
  4. Pay annual fee of $75 using debit or credit card - Mastercard or Visa

Refunds and late fees

If you believe you have been charged an incorrect fee or have paid twice, please contact Council on 8397 7313

Refunds on compassionate grounds are offered by Council subject to conditions. The Dog and Cat Management Board retains 24% of dog registration fees and these funds are not available to councils.

  • Where the dog becomes deceased within one month of payment of registration fee, 76% will be refunded
  • Where the dog becomes deceased up to 3 months after payment of registration fee, 57% will be refunded
  • Where the dog becomes deceased up to 6 months after payment of registration fee, 38% will be refunded
  • Where the dog becomes deceased up to 9 months after payment of registration fee, 19% will be refunded

Apply for a dog registration fee refund online form

A $15 late payment fee will be applied for each unregistered dog after 31 August.

Apply to waive the dog registration late fee online form

Late fees will not be refunded if payment of the registration fee and late fee has been made.

Dogs and Cats Online refund policy(PDF, 64KB)

Name and address suppression in Dogs and Cats Online

Name and address suppression enables at-risk dog owners to have their details suppressed within the Dogs and Cats Online website.

Suppressed owners - owner information(PDF, 39KB)

Statutory Declaration - Dogs and Cats Online(PDF, 27KB)

Access to information in Dogs and Cats Online

Members of the public can apply to the Registrar of Dogs for access to their register.

Application for access to information in Dogs and Cats Online

Number of dogs on property

Council's By-Law No 4 - Dogs, limits the number of dogs allowed to be kept on premises and manages and controls dogs in the Council area.

Apply to keep more than two dogs - fees are payable with this application.

By-law No 4(PDF, 1MB)

Dog registration fees 2022-2023

*Dogs must have completed Level 2 dog obedience training to be eligible for the training concession. A copy of certificate is required to be provided.

Related information

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