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Breeders Responsibilities - Dogs & Cats

Anyone breeding cats and dogs must ensure the health, safety and happiness of the pets in their care. The breeding essentials below are a starting point to help you meet legal requirements for breeders in NSW.

If you breed cats or dogs in New South Wales, it's crucial to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the animals in your care. The following guidelines provide a starting point to help you meet the legal requirements for breeders in NSW.

Recognised Breeder Documentation

Breeders must give council documentation to prove that the animal qualifies for the recognised breeding animal registration fee. This allows breeders to avoid paying the additional fee for non-desexed dogs over 6 months of age and the annual permit fee for non-desexed cats over 4 months of age.

Documentation includes:

  • proof of current membership as a breeder member of a recognised breeder body
  • verification that the cat or dog is of a breed accepted by the recognised breeder body
  • a signed statement by the member that the cat or dog is kept for breeding purposes.

To qualify as a recognised breeder in NSW, you must be a member of a recognised breeders’ organisation. The current recognised breeders’ organisations in NSW are below.

Microchipping Requirements for Breeders

As a breeder, you are required to microchip cats and dogs either before selling or giving them away or by the time they are 12 weeks old.

Your vet or authorized identifier will receive instructions on how to confirm the litter details and enter microchip numbers online. Once this is completed, you will receive a confirmation email and a message on your NSW Pet Registry profile.

Some vets and authorized identifiers still use paper forms to register animals on the NSW Pet Registry, which can delay the confirmation process. You may suggest they use the more efficient digital system, but the choice of method remains theirs.

Registration 

All pet cats and dogs in NSW must be registered on the NSW Pet Registry either by 12 weeks of age or immediately upon transfer (whichever happens first).

Selling or giving away pets in NSW

You can transfer ownership of microchipped pets to NSW residents instantly using the NSW Pet Registry. This convenient online process means owners can take a new pet home with the pet profile officially in their name.

If the new owner does not have a NSW Pet Registry profile, use your profile to send them an invitation to create one for a seamless transfer and ongoing pet management. If they are not able to use the digital system, you can give council a completed Change of owner (C3A) (PDF, 150 KB) form.

Important Information About Litters

  • Only sell or give away cats and dogs to individuals aged 18 or older.
  • Puppies and kittens should not be sold or given away until they are at least 8 weeks old.
  • Microchipping is the breeder’s responsibility and must be done before sale or transfer, or by 12 weeks of age.
  • Puppies and kittens must be vaccinated against common diseases between 6 and 8 weeks old, following your vet’s best-practice advice.
  • Do not sell or give away cats or dogs that appear sick, injured, or diseased.
  • All pet cats and dogs must be registered by 12 weeks of age or immediately upon transfer, whichever comes first.

Important Information About Breeding Animals

  • Your breeding animals must be registered on the NSW Pet Registry.
  • Dogs and cats must be physically and mentally fit for mating.
  • Female dogs (bitches) should not be intentionally mated before they are one year old.
  • Bitches should not have more than two litters in any two-year period, unless written approval is obtained from a veterinary practitioner.
  • Female cats (queens) should not be intentionally mated during their first oestrous cycle.
  • Queens should not have more than three litters in any two-year period, unless written approval is obtained from a veterinary practitioner.

Legal Requirements for Breeders

Breeders must understand and adhere to the obligations set forth in the relevant legislation and regulations. Refer to the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the Companion Animals Regulation 2018 for detailed information on breeders’ responsibilities and registration requirements.

Breeders must also comply with animal welfare laws administered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, including:

  • Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
  • Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006
  • Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding Dogs and Cats

Advertising Pets in NSW

When advertising kittens, cats, puppies, or dogs for sale or adoption in NSW, you must include an identification number. This can be the pet’s microchip number, your recognized breeder number, or your breeder identification number (BIN), which is issued at no charge when you create a litter for the first time on the NSW Pet Registry. Rehoming organizations must use their rehoming organization number.

 

© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024

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