Wodonga Council — Registering your dog or cat

Dog and cat together

Wodonga Council encourages responsible pet ownership. All cats and dogs three months or older must be registered annually (on April 10).

Register your dog/cat online here

Renew your animal registration online here

Change or update your details here

The owners of a dog or cat who fail to register their animal may be liable for a $396 fine.

Please note: Where the owner of a dog/cat is under the age of 18 years, the parent or guardian of that owner will be deemed the legal owner of the dog/cat.

Benefits of registering my animal

If you lose your dog or cat, having them registered with the council greatly improves their chances of being returned to you. Your registration fee also provides a whole range of other important services too - such as:

A service for owners to report lost and found pets;
Council officers to respond to calls about wandering dogs and cats;
Council officers to investigate complaints regarding noise nuisances;
Council officers to inspect the properties where dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs are owned;
Council monitoring of pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries for compliance with the minimum standards under the Codes of Practice;
An education officer to provide information to schools, community groups and the general public on responsible pet ownership; and,
An annual door knock to ensure all dogs and cats over three months are registered.

For more information on the benefits of registering your animal, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

The registration process

To register a dog or cat, the owner must complete the new dog/cat registration form online.

If you are transferring ownership of an animal, please complete the dog/cat registration change of ownership form online.

Registration needs to be paid annually by April 10 each year. This date is not set by us. It is the owner’s responsibility to renew their animal registration each year under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

Animal registration fees

If you register after	Full fee	Registration fee (sterilised)	Full fee pensioner	Pensioner fee (sterilised)
April 10, 2024 (annual fee)	$165	$32	$82.50	$16
July 10, 2024 (pro-rata 2024-2025)	$123.75	$24	$61.86	$13
October 10, 2025 (pro-rata 2024-2025)	$82.50	$16	$41.25	$8
January 10, 2025 The annual renewal process commences February 17. The full fee applies from that date.	$41.25	$8	$20.63	$4

Please note: For owners registering a puppy (between three and six months of age) for the first time, they will only be charged the reduced registration fee for the first year provided they desex the animal and provide evidence prior to the next registration cycle (April 10 each year). If no evidence is provided, their registration renewal fee will automatically revert to the full registration fee. Evidence means a statutory declaration or sterilisation certificate as verification. Dogs more than six months of age must be desexed to be eligible for the reduced registration fee.

Am I eligible for a discount?

If your pet meets one or more of the following you will be eligible for a reduced fee:

Desexed (evidence must be provided)
More than 10 years of age
Part of a domestic animal business or the owner is a member of an applicable organisation
A pet that has undergone specific training. Find out more at Agriculture Victoria.
Assistance dogs. Find out more at Agriculture Victoria.
A working dog. Find out more at Agriculture Victoria.

Reduced registration rates apply for pension card holders, however, Health Care Card holders are ineligible.

Assistance dogs exemption

From December 21, 2023, assistance dogs as defined under the Equal Opportunity Act, are exempt from registration fees. Find out more here.

Multiple dogs and cats

You can keep up to two dogs and two cats, over three months of age on any premises (with the exception of properties classified as Rural 1).

If you wish to keep more than this number of animals, you must apply for a permit. When applying for this permit, you will need to sought permission from all adjoining neighbours to your property.

Microchipping your animal

Microchipping is compulsory for all animals under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

For more information on microchipping in Victoria including how to change your details on microchipping registers, see RSPCA Victoria's website. Also make sure you let us know if you have changed your address.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I have to register my animal annually?

Under the Domestic Animal Management Act 2004, ALL cats and dogs over three months of age must be registered with us.

Registrations are due on April 10 each year, and you can register your animal online using our online services here. You can find out more about the registrations process here.

Is there a discount for pensioners?

Yes. The registration fee for animals owned by pensioners is half the applicable fee. There are some exemptions. You can read more via our website here.

Do all cats and dogs need to be desexed?

No, however there are many benefits to desexing your animals. You can also receive a reduced registration fee.

My dog or cat has run away – what will happen to it?

If your dog or cat is picked up by a ranger, they will do everything within their power to return it to you that day – so make sure they are microchipped and registered (and your contact details are up to date) so your loved companion can be brought home as soon as possible.

Someone must also be at home to receive the animal when it’s returned to the registered address. If you can’t be contacted or the pet is not microchipped and registered, it will be taken to the Albury Animal Care Centre in Lavington.

Check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date listing to see if your dog or cat has been impounded. You have eight days to claim your pet.

If it’s registered, phone Albury Animal Care Centre on (02) 6025 9682 to make an appointment to collect it during opening hours.
If it’s not registered, you will have to register it before you can collect it – either online (pay via credit card) or in person at Albury Animal Care Centre.
If your cat is not desexed, you will have to arrange with Albury Animal Care Centre for a vet to desex it before you can collect it.

* Please note impounding fees also apply.

I’ve changed by address – how do I update my animal registration?

The easiest way to update your contact details with the council is to complete our ‘change of details’ online form.

You can also contact our customer service team on (02) 6022 9300 who will update your address on our systems.