The Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 requires that all dogs and cats throughout the Gladstone Region must be registered.  The Act also requires that all cats and dogs must be microchipped when purchased or given away.

Animal registration combined with micro chipping is the best way to Rescue and Reunite lost animals with their owners.

Your most important responsibilities as a dog owner are:

register your dog before they reach three months of age and every year after that
ensure your dog always wears its collar and tag
walk your dog on a lead when in a public place, except in off-leash areas
keep your dog quiet (see barking dogs)
keep your dog in your yard
don’t let your dog attack or frighten people or animals (see dangerous , menacing and restricted dogs)
pick up after your dog when it is in a public place
Queensland Government legislation now requires your dog to be microchipped in certain circumstances.
Council encourages residents to consider the benefits of desexing pets in an aim to reduce the breeding and to prevent unwanted kittens or puppies being abandoned.

"Owning a pet is a life long commitment"

PLEASE NOTE: Council will commence an Animal Inspection Program on the 21st of January 2013 running through to the 21st of July 2013. A systemamtic property inspection program through out the Gladstone Region will be conducted during the six months by Local Law Enforcement Officers at the Gladstone Regional Council to determine the registration status of cats and dogs. Further information on animal registration and other regulations in relation to animals can be obtained by contacting Gladstone Regional Council's Local Law Enforcement Office on (07) 4970 0700.
 

State Government Animal Management Act: Introduction

The State Government has introduced the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008. This Act regulates the way that Councils in Queensland manage aggressive dogs, registration of cats and dogs, de-sexing incentives and the requirement to microchip animals.

Gladstone Regional Council has embraced the new act as a way to address the previous inequity where some residents were required to pay registration for their cats and dogs and others were not required to register.

The Act requires that all dogs and cats throughout the Gladstone Region must be registered. The Act also requires that all cats and dogs must be microchipped when purchased or given away.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS	Cats or dogs that are under 12 weeks of age	Cats or dogs 12 weeks and over	Already own a cat or dog 12 weeks and over	Buying/selling a cat or dog	Giving away a cat or dog (at any age)
Do I need to register my cat or dog with Council?	Recommended, however not compulsory until 12 weeks of age	Yes It's compulsory	Yes It's compulsory	Yes It's compulsory	Yes It's compulsory
Do I need to microchip my cat or dog?	Yes It's compulsory	Yes It's compulsory	No, but it's recommended	Yes It's compulsory	Yes It's compulsory
Do I need to have my cat or dog desexed?	No, but it's recommended	No, but it's recommended	No, but it's recommended	No, but it's recommended	No, but it's recommended

Microchipping

Cats and dogs must be microchipped when:

• sold (seller responsibility)
• given away (responsibility on the person giving away the animal)
• before reaching the age of 12 weeks

The benefits of microchipping

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. Implanted by a local vet, the microchip causes no discomfort or pain to your pet.

The barcode on the microchip is linked to your contact details and recorded on a microchip registry database for the life of your pet. This means your pet is permanently identified Australia-wide and can be safely returned to you even if there is no collar or Council registration tag.

Once you've microchipped your pet, the registry will supply a certificate of identification for your pet.

Maintaining microchip information
Whenever you move address,contact your microchip registry to update your details as soon as possible.This will increase the chance of being reunited with your pet, should they become lost. Penalties do apply for failing to update your personal information.

Tattooing of desexed pets

From 1 July 2009, the Queensland Government requires a small tattoo to be placed on the inside ear of any cat or dog at the time they are desexed to identify the animal as being desexed.

While it is recommended that all pets be desexed, it is not mandatory that cats or dogs be desexed. 

Working Dogs

Registration is compulsory for all dogs and cats; however exemptions apply to 'working dogs'? A working dog is classified by the below criteria: 

(A) Means a dog usually kept or proposed to be kept -
      (i) on rural land; and
      (ii) by an owner who is a primary producer, or a person engaged or employed by a primary producer; and
      (iii) primarily for the purpose of -
            (a) droving, protecting, tending, or working, stock; or
            (b) being trained in droving, protecting, tending, or working, stock; and
(B) Does not include a class of dog prescribed under a regulation.

If you beleive your animal is classified as a 'working dog', please complete a 'Working Dogs Self Assessment Application Form' and submit to Council along with any supporting documentation. Officers will then assess and determine if you qualify from registration exemption.

For further information regarding registration for working dogs please contact Council’s Local Law Enforcement office by phoning (07) 4970 0700.
 

Animal Registration Fees

The animal registration fee structure has been developed to promote responsible pet ownership by residents in the Gladstone Region. Increasing discounts apply for owners who;

• Desex their cat or dog
• Microchip their cat or dog
• hold a current Centrelink Pensioner concession card
• hold a Veterans' Affairs Repatriation Health card - for all conditions (Gold Card)

Standard Registration	AMOUNT DUE
Entire Animal	$95.00
Desexed OR Micro chipped Animal	$50.00
Desexed AND Micro chipped Animal	$25.00
Pension or Concession - Entire Animal	$60.00
Pension or Concession - Desexed OR Micro chipped Animal	$30.00
Pension or Concession - Desexed AND Micro chipped Animal	$15.00
Regulated dog	$400.00

Pet Registration Forms

• Application for Animal Registration 
• Declaration of Animal Sterilistation and/or Microchipping Form
• Application for Transfer of Animal Ownership of a Registered Animal
• Application for Refund of Animal Registration Fee (must be supported by statutory declaration or vets certificate) (82KB PDF)

If your cat or dog is desexed and/or microchipped you will need to provide a copy of the animals sterilisation certificate which will be supplied by your vet and/or the mircochip registries certificate of identification with your registration application from to validate all discount fee entitlements that may apply to your circumstances. Alternately you can complete a statutory declaration in lieu of having to provide a copy of these certificates.

My pup/kitten is too young to be desexed?

If you intend desexing your pet in the first year of registration, but it is too young to undergo the procedure at the time of registration, the desexed rate will be charged at the time of registration (3 months of age). In the case that the animal is not desexed by the time the second year of registration is due, the full registration rate will be charged.
 

Payment options

You can renew your dog or cat registration in person by visiting any Council Rural Transaction Centre or Administration Centre.

Payment is accepted at all centre's in the form of:

• Cash
• EFTPOS
• Credit Card (AMEX accepted)
• Cheque or Money Order

Please post Cheque or Money Order payments with your registration application form or remittance slip from your registration notice to:

Gladstone Regional Council
PO BOX 29
GLADSTONE  DC QLD  4680

Electronic Payment Methods:

• BPAY  - Biller Code 102475

Use the biller code and reference number that appears on your current 2012/13 Registration Renewal Notice visit www.bpay.com.au or phone your bank or financial institution for assistance

Once payment is received, your animal registration tag will be allocated and posted to you within 21 days.

If you experience difficulties or have any questions regarding your registration notices please contact Council's Local Law Enforcement Office for further assistance on (07) 4970 0700.

Overdue renewals

If your account is overdue, you will need to contact Council to discuss other payment options or alternately visit a Council Rural Transaction Centre or Administration Centre to arrange for payment in person.  If paying your overdue bill by Bpay please note that the Standard Animal Registration Fees will apply.
 

Changes to Details on your Animal Registration Notice

Update desexing details

If your cat or dog has been desexed since the last registration, you can submit a copy of the animals desexing certificate or a signed statutory declaration to enable us to update the registration details and lock in the cheaper annual registration fee for you for when the next renewal invoice is issued.

Where Council has not received written proof of desexing or microchipping with registration application, the registration fee will be charged at the non-desexed and/or non-microchipped rate.  Providing written proof to Council officers at time of payment will entitle you to the discount rate.

Canceling your registration

If you no longer have your cat or dog, please advise Council in writing via email to info@gladstonerc.qld.gov.au, post or by phoning Council on (07) 4970 0700 to cancel the registration.

Selling or giving away your animal

If you are selling or giving away your cat or dog to a new owner or any person residing in Queensland, you are required by the state government to have your cat or dog microchipped at the time the transaction takes place.

You must also complete the relevant Transfer of Ownership Form and submit it to Council to transfer the animal’s registration and your responsibilities.  No fees apply for the transfer changes, except when a new tag is required.

Registration refunds

A refund of 50% of the registration fee can be requested if your cat or dog is deceased or if you leave the Gladstone Regional Council area within the first six months of registering.  Please complete the Application for Refund of Animal Registration Fee Form (82KB PDF) and submit to Council. 

No refund applications will be reviewed following 1 May of each calendar year.  Refunded monies will only be paid direct to your bank account.  No cheques will be issued for refunds.

Council does not refund for animal registration fees paid in past registration years.

Changing your contact details/address

To update your animal registration details and/or your contact details you must notify Council of these changes in writing within 7 days of the changed information. To do so you can:
Email info@gladstonerc.qld.gov.au
Fax (07) 4975 8500
Post: Gladstone Regional Council, PO Box 29, Gladstone DC Qld 4680.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you are changing address and your cat or dog has been microchipped, you must also advise your microchip registry.  Gladstone Regional Council does not hold details relating to the microchipping of your animal other than the chip number itself.