Animals

Buying a dog or cat

If you are buying a dog or cat, it is important that you know your rights and the responsibilities of seller.

Before you pay for your new dog or cat, you should:

• ask to see it in person
• check that it has been vaccinated and given flea and worm treatments
• check that it has been microchipped and registered on the NSW Pet Registry
• check the breeder identification number (BIN) or rehoming organisation number (RON) on the NSW Pet Registry
• request a receipt or proof of purchase.

If you are responding to an ad for a dog, it must include a microchip number, and a BIN or RON. If the ad is for a cat, it must include a microchip number, or a BIN or RON.

If you are worried about the health of a puppy or kitten, you can ask the seller to get the puppy or kitten checked by a vet before you buy them. If you have bought a puppy or kitten and something has gone wrong, you may be able to return the animal and ask for a refund. You can contact NSW Fair Trading for help.

For more information, see Pets on the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.

Microchipping and registration of cats and dogs

Cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered. This must be done before they are 12 weeks old or before they are sold or given away, whichever happens first. It is illegal to sell, rehome or give away a cat or dog without a microchip.

Cats and dogs can be registered online through NSW Pet Registry, at your Local Council, or at Service NSW.

If you buy a dog or cat from outside of NSW and bring it to live with you in NSW, you must have it registered in NSW. For more information, see Register a pet from outside NSW on the Office of Local Government website.

If you sell or give away a cat or dog in NSW, there are a few ways that you can transfer ownership. You can do it online through NSW Pet Registry, at your local council, or at Service NSW.

For more information, see Transfer ownership on the Office of Local Government website.

Nuisance dogs and cats

A local council can give an owner of a dog or cat something called a nuisance order. This order notifies the owner that they must prevent the nuisance behaviour.

A dog is a nuisance dog if it:

• consistently goes around where it shouldn’t be
• Consistently makes a lot of noise persistent, excessive noise
• repeatedly defecates on private property
• repeatedly runs at or chases a person, an animal or vehicle
• endangers the health of a person or animal
• repeatedly causes a lot of damage.

 A cat is a nuisance cat if it:

• consistently makes noise that interferes with someones peace, comfort or convenience
• repeatedly damages anything outside the property. 

A nuisance order applies for six months and can’t be appealed or reviewed.

Dangerous and menacing dogs

Local councils or the local court can declare a dog as dangerous if it:

• has attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin like rats or mice) for no reason
• has threatened or chased a person or animal more than once for no reason
• is kept for hunting, unless it is only used to find birds, rats or mice.

Local councils or the local court can declare a dog to be menacing if the dog has:

• has been unreasonably aggressive to a person or animal (other than vermin like rats or mice), or
• has attacked a person or animal (other than vermin), for no reason , but without causing serious injury or death.

If you get a notice of intention to declare that your dog is dangerous or menacing, you have seven days to argue this, by lodging a written objection with your local council.

You can appeal against a declaration that your dog is dangerous to the local court within 28 days. You can’t appeal against a declaration that your dog is a menacing dog.

If you are an owner of a dog that is declared dangerous or menacing, you must follow the strict conditions. You can be fined if you don’t follow them.

If you don’t follow the control orders, or if your dog attacks a person or animal the local court can give a destruction order if your dog attacks a person or animal, or you don’t comply with the control order.

 For more information, see Declared Dangerous and Menacing Dogs on the Office of the Local Government NSW website.

Restricted dogs

Some dog breeds are restricted in NSW.

If you own a restricted dog, you must follow strict conditions. This includes:

• making sure that your dog is desexed and registered
• applying for a permit every year
• keeping the dog in an enclosure
• placing warning signs on your property
• keeping your dog on a leash and muzzled while outside
• ensuring that your dog wears a red and yellow striped collar.

You are not allowed to breed, sell or give away a restricted dog unless it is given up to the local council or animal welfare organisation.

You must also report an attack or injury to your local council within 24 hours.

If the local council has given you a notice of intention to declare your dog restricted, you have 28 days to argue this. You need to give a written response provide supporting evidence from an approved breed assessor.

You can’t appeal the decision of the local council.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are highly trained to provide support to people living with a disability. They must also be micro-chipped and registered in NSW.

There are three types of assistance dogs: service dogs, guide dogs and hearing dogs. Assistance dogs are allowed on all public places and public transport, including trains and buses.

For more information, see Assistance animals on the Office of the Local Government website.

Animal cruelty

It is illegal to be cruel to animals.

 Animal cruelty could include:

• failing to provide medical treatment to an animal
• neglecting an animal
• not giving an animal food or water, or safe living conditions
• locking an animal up inappropriately
• hurting or killing an animal.

If you have concerns about the safety or welfare of an animal, you should contact:

• the NSW Police
• RSPCA, or
• Animal Welfare League NSW.

For more information, see Reporting animal welfare concerns on the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.

Lost or strayed animals

If you lose your dog or cat, you must notify your local council within 72 hours. The local council can update the microchip record to ‘missing’ until your animal is found.

If you find a dog or cat, check the contact details on the collar or tag to locate the owner. If the dog or cat does not have a collar or tag, you have 48 hours to take it to the local council pound, animal welfare organisation, or local vet within 48 hours.

You must provide the animal with food and water while it is in your care.

Animals left in pounds are kept for 14 days if they are microchipped and seven days if they are not. The pound can charge a fee before releasing the animal to the owner. Unclaimed animals can be adopted, sold or destroyed.

For information, see Lost and found on the RSPCA website.

Pets in strata

You can keep a pet if you live in an apartment unless the pet causes ‘unreasonable interference’. This means that your pet can’t be a dangerous or restricted animal and must not disturb other residents in the building.

There are by-laws about keeping an animal in your property.

For more information, see Pets in strata on the NSW Government website.

Last updated: February 2026