Register your pet or renew its registration
Summary
All dogs and cats must be registered with Council as soon as they turn 3 months old. We'll send you a reminder notice every year before your registration renewal is due.
Dogs and cats need to be microchipped before being registered. Your pet must wear the lifetime registration tag on its collar at all times.
Cats need to be desexed before being registered, and you get a discount on your dog registration fee if your dog is desexed.
You may be fined if you don't register your pet, renew its registration, or if it’s found not wearing its registration tag.
Online form - first-time pet registration Download a form - first-time pet registration Pay registration renewal online
Renew your pet registration online
- Pet registration must be renewed by 10 April each year. You’ll get a renewal notice every year to remind you to renew your pet’s registration.
- Registration tag: This is a lifetime tag, so you won’t be sent a new tag when you renew your pet's registration.
If you need a replacement tag: Email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or call 1300 787 624
Register your pet for the first time
Register and pay online
The easiest way to register and pay is by using our online form.
- Once you apply and pay, we’ll post your pet's unique lifetime registration tag to you within 5 to 10 working days.
- Please attach the tag to your pet's collar and make sure it's on at all times.
What you need to provide with your application
- Proof of microchipping
(Including the microchip number and a copy of the microchipping certificate). If you can’t find your pet’s microchip details, contact Central Animal Records on 03 9706 3187 or info@car.com.au - Desexing/sterilisation certificate
This certificate is required to register a cat. You’ll also need to provide a copy of the certificate to get a reduced registration fee for your dog.
If you're claiming a reduced registration fee
You'll need to provide the following (as applicable):
- Proof of age (if claiming free registration for the first year for a pet under 3 months old, or reduced fee for a pet over 10 years of age)
- Proof of applicable membership organisation – including a copy of the membership certificate and membership number for both the animal owner and the animal
- Proof of obedience training from an approved organisation
- Proof of adoption during this registration period (if applying for a reduced registration fee for an adopted animal)
- Photo of pensioner concession card and card number
If you can't supply proof, you can submit a Statutory Declaration witnessed by an authorised person.
Other ways to register and pay
You can also download a form and post, email or drop it to us.
Post
Please post the form with copies of any required documents to:
Cardinia Shire Council
PO BOX 7
Pakenham VIC 3810
Once we receive your application we’ll call you to arrange payment.
Please email the form and attach scans of any required documents to:
mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au
Once we receive the email we’ll call you to arrange payment.
In person
Please bring in the form and copies of any required documents to:
Council’s Customer Service Centre
20 Siding Avenue, Officer
In-person payment options
- EFTPOS
- Credit card
- Cheque/money order made payable to Cardinia Shire Council
- Cash
Registration fees
- This information shows the annual fees for pet registrations as of 1st July 2025. All registrations paid after this date will be due for renewal by 10 April 2026.
- A Health Care Card does not qualify you for a pensioner concession.
Dog (3 months of age or under, with written proof of age only)
Registration fee: Free for the remainder of the registration period
Cat (3 months of age or under, with written proof of age only)
Registration fee: Free for the remainder of the registration period
Dog (desexed)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Cat (desexed)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Dog (not desexed)
Registration fee: $185.00
($88.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Dog (over 10 years of age)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Cat (over 10 years of age)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Dog (obedience trained)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Dog (membership with approved organisation)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Cat (membership with approved organisation)
Registration fee: $61.00
($28.00 if you have pensioner concession)
Dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breeds
Registration fee: $380.00
(Pensioner concession and Pro-Rata not available)
Transfer of registration from another council (dogs or cats)
Registration fee: No cost. To be eligible, you must supply proof that the animal was registered during the registration period with the previous council.
Adopted dog or cat
Registration fee: Free for the remainder of the registration period. To be eligible, you must supply proof that the animal was adopted during the registration period.
Guide or assistance dogs
Registration fee: Must provide proof of training or qualification in order to be registered at no cost.
Cancel or change your pet registration details
Please complete the online form below if:
- your pet has passed away
- your residential or billing address has changed
- your contact details have changed or you would like to add a second contact
- your pet has been desexed (must provide desexing certificate)
- you require a new registration tag
- you have moved to another Council
- you no longer own the animal
Online form - update pet registration details
Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 787 624 to update the details over the phone.
To request a refund when cancelling your pet registration, please email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au
To qualify for a refund for your pet registration, please provide your details and the reason for cancelling. Refunds requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to eligibility criteria including the date Council is notified by the pet owner.
Refunds for cancelled pet registrations are calculated based on the date of the pet's death and exclude the $4.64 Victorian Animal Levy.
- If your pet passes away before 10 July - 100% fee refund.
- If your pet passes away between 10 July and 10 October - 50% fee refund.
- If your pet passes away after 10 October - No refund is applicable.
- Refunds for lost pets are not available as they may return.
- If your dog is a Dangerous dogs, menacing dogs and restricted breed, you must provide a death certificate before a refund can be considered.
About microchipping
- A microchip is a tiny computer chip about the size of a grain of rice. A vet injects it under your pet’s skin, between the shoulder blades. This is a simple procedure and there are no side effects.
- It stores information which, when scanned, shows who owns the animal.
- Microchipping your pet and keeping the details updated with Central Animal Records means your pet can be returned safely to you if it gets lost.
- More info on microchipping: Agriculture Victoria website
Discounts for approved memberships and obedience training
Approved membership organisations
You get a discount on your registration if you are a member of any of the following organisations. Owners are required to provide proof of their membership and proof of their animals registration with the applicable organisation to be eligible for the reduced fee.
- Australian National Cats
- Dogs Victoria
- Feline Control Council (Victoria)
- The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria
- Master Dog Breeders & Associates (MDBA)
- Responsible Pet Breeders Australia (RPBA)
Approved obedience training organisations
You get a discount on your registration if your dog has completed obedience training that complies with the Domestic Animals Regulations 2015 (such as with any of these organisations below).
- Kintala Dog Club Association Inc
- Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc
- Delta Institute
To get the discounted registration
You need to provide proof with your application that your dog has:
- done an assessment program with one of these organisations
- been issued with an obedience certificate recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (trading as Dogs Australia).
Transfer your pet registration from another council
To transfer your pet’s registration from another Council in Victoria, please submit a pet registration form.
You will not be charged again if you attach proof of payment from your previous Victorian council for the current registration period (up to 30 June 2020, or 10 April other years).
Replace a lost or damaged lifetime registration pet tag
If you need a replacement tag please contact us at mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or 1300 787 624.
Your pet is not allowed to wander off your property
It is your responsibility as the owner of a dog or cat to keep it on your property at all times.
More info:
What pet registration fees help to pay for
Your fees help us provide many services including:
- off leash dog parks
- collecting and returning lost pets
- following up complaints about problem dogs and cats
- investigation of dog attacks
- cat trapping programs.