Registration of dogs and cats for the period 2008 to 2009
As well as being a legal requirement, payment of your pet's registration (and display of a registration tag) is a good way of ensuring that your pet can be returned to you if lost. Registration information is also used to send pet owners council publications relating to pet ownership and animal management.
Why do pets now have to be registered at three months (instead of six) of age?
Most puppies and kittens are purchased or obtained between the age of eight to twelve weeks. Registering pets at a younger age ensures that more lost puppies and kittens can be returned to their owners. In addition, owners receive discount registration fees if their pets are desexed. Lowering the pet registration age may encourage early age desexing of dogs and cats. This may in turn prevent the breeding of unwanted dogs and cats, many of which are euthanased each year across Victoria.
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Pay your registration renewal online
Annual pet registration renewals are due by April 10 each year.
If all details are correct on your renewal form please make your payment using any of the available payment methods listed below or on the reverse side of the form.
If any details are incorrect on your renewal form, please still make your payment using any of the available payment methods listed below or on the reverse side of the form. Correct the information and return the entire notice to City of Port Phillip in person, by mail or fax to 9536 2757. Corrections can only be made in relation to the animal listed on the renewal notice.
There is a range of payment options which are:
- At any Post Office or branch (cash, cheque, or EFTPOS debit card).
- BPAY by phone or internet using credit card and debit card
- DEFT by phone, including international payments, via phone using credit card or debit card.
- DEFT by internet, visit www.deft.com.au and enter your DEFT Reference Number, which is on your animal registration renewal notice, and follow the instructions
- In person at any Port Phillip town hall - St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne (cash, cheque, money order or EFTPOS). Town Hall locations
- By mail (cheque or money order) to Private Bag 3 St Kilda, VIC 3182. Please make cheques payable to "Port Phillip City Council"
If you are not renewing the registration of your dog/cat, please complete the applicable section on the reverse side of the renewal form.
A separate New Animal Registration Form (see below) is to be completed for any other dog/cat not previously registered with council. Please note that registration tags are not transferable between animals.
Upon payment of your new animal registration in person, the cashier will provide you with a New Owner Kit. If you are sending your application by mail with a cheque or money order, a kit will be sent to you along with your pet registration tag.
A reduction in fees apply upon the production of written proof of the pet having been microchipped or desexed, etc.
Please complete a  New Animal Registration Form 2008-2009.
Return the completed form with the fee (see below) to one of the Town Halls cashiers and a tag will be issued on the spot. If you pay by mail, the tag will be mailed with your receipt.
Note: There are no registration fees for Guide Dogs in the City of Port Phillip.
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Registration fees
The maximum annual fee for dogs is $132 and for cats $66.
| Maximum |
$132.00 |
$66.00 |
| Maximum Pensioner |
$66.00 |
$33.00 |
| Reduced Fee |
$44.00 |
$22.00 |
| Reduced Fee Pensioner |
$22.00 |
$11.00 |
Reduced fees apply to animals under the following categories:
- Sterilised
- Microchipped
- Over 10 years old
- Registered with Victorian Canine Association (VCA) or Feline Control Council (FCC)
- Undergone Obedience Training that complies with the Regulations
- Working animals
Evidence for a reduced fee must be provided. A state concession is also available subject to eligibility.
50% State Concession
If you wish to claim a State Concession (under the meaning of the State Concession Act 1986), you must supply one of the following cards:
- a Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Social Security or the Department of Veteran Affairs;
- a Gold Card specifying War Widow issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs;
- a Gold Card specifying TPI issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Please note: Health Care Cards and Seniors Cards are not eligible.
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Multiple animal permit
The City of Port Phillip's Local Law No. 3 (Clause 19) specifies the maximum number of animals permitted on a property without a permit, depending on the dwelling type. If you live in a house, you may keep two dogs & two cats. One dog & one cat may be kept in a flat/unit.
All dogs and cats aged three months and over must be registered prior to submitting your permit application.
Please complete and return the Multiple Animal Permit Application form to the City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda, 3182, if you wish to apply for a permit for exceeding the number for the respective dwelling type.
Please note that a $50 administrative fee is payable upon submitting your application. Payment of this fee does not guarantee automatic permit approval. If in the event that the permit is refused, the application fee will not be refunded.
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Pet identification
Registration tags
City of Port Phillip animal registration tags are blue circular discs and are printed on both sides. The tag issued to your cat or dog will remain current provided that the registration fee is paid annually and the tag should be worn by the animal at all times. This means your pet will keep the same registration tag each year with no need to go through the rigmarole of changing tags annually.
If your pet loses its registration tag or it is damaged, a new one can be obtained from the council.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Animal Management.
Microchipping
Keeping track of your pet every minute of the day is not always possible, and sometimes pets go astray. Microchipping is now compulsory & makes it easy for your beloved pet to be returned to you. A small chip the size of a grain of rice is injected between an animal's shoulder blades, providing a permanent form of identification for your pet.
The council's animal management officers carry microchip scanners in their vehicles and can reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners.
It is also important to keep your pets microchip details up to date, if you have changed address. You can do this by contacting Central Animal Records.
You can get your pet microchipped by your Vet.
Please refer to the Microchip your pet page for more information on compulsory microchipping.
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Why register?
There are around 7,000 registered cats and dogs in Port Phillip. In accordance with state laws all cats and dogs within the City of Port Phillip aged three months and over must be registered. Registration renewal fees are due by April 10 each year.
- Registered pet owners receive posted information about responsible pet
ownership
- If your moggie or pooch gets lost, the tags, along with microchip (if your pet has one), allow City of Port Phillip animal management to reunite you both
It is also a good idea for your pet to wear a separate ID tag with its name, phone number and address, so neighbours and passers-by can easily return your pet if it escapes from your property.
Failure to renew your pet registration may result in a penalty &/or make you liable to prosecution.
For more information on the benefits of pet registration, see the Responsible Pet Ownership website.
Change of Address
If you have moved addresses within the City of Port Phillip, please complete the Change of Address Form on the Rates page.
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Relevant links and more information
See Lost & Found Animals if you have lost your animal, or if you have found one.
See the Pet Owner Groups & Vets page for membership organisations, vets, breed clubs, kennels & catteries, pet shops and animal welfare organisations.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Animal Management.
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