Register a new pet

All dogs and cats over three months of age must be microchipped and registered. This is a State Government requirement. 

Your pet is also required to wear a Council-issued registration tag. This means that if your pet escapes or becomes lost, we can help reunite you with it.

You will also need to renew your pet registration by 10 April annually. 

Please refer to the below fees and charges relating to Dog and Cat registrations.
Animals-and-Local-Laws-Fees-and-Charges-2023-24.pdf(PDF, 172KB)

Pensioners - If you hold a valid Pension Card you may be eligible for a 50% discount on your animal registration fee(s).

Restricted Breeds and Declared Dogs: If you own a restricted breed of dog or a dog declared as dangerous or menacing, you are not eligible for a reduced fee and you must follow certain guidelines. Please contact us for further information.

In person

Step 1.Gather your documents

To register your new pet, you'll need the following documents:

If you are applying for a reduced fee, you will need to also supply one of the following:

  • Your pets de-sexing certification
  • Proof of membership/registration with approved organisation
  • Your Pension Concession Card

Step 2.Visit us

Bring your documents into our Government Centre at 62-68 Ovens Street, Wangaratta. Payment can be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card.

Post

Step 1.Gather your documents

To register your new pet, you'll need the following documents:

If you are applying for a reduced fee, you will need to also supply one of the following:

  • Your pets de-sexing certification
  • Proof of membership/registration with approved organisation
  • Your Pension Concession Card

Step 2.Send

Send a copy of your documents along with a cheque or money order to the Rural City of Wangaratta, PO Box 238, Wangaratta 3676. 

Please make cheques payable to "Wangaratta Rural City Council". Please note that receipts will not be issued for mailed payments.

Credit card payments can also be made over the phone on 03 5722 0888.

If your animal is registered with an approved organisation, you may be eligible for reduced fees. Proof of membership must be provided.

The following organisations are approved until 30 September 2021:

  • Dogs Victoria
  • Australian National Cats Inc.
  • Feline Control Council of Victoria Inc.
  • The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy Australia and Victoria Inc. 

If you hold one of the following Pension Cards you may be eligible for a 50% discount on your animal registration fees(s):

  • Pension Concession Card
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card — War Widow (WW)
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card — Totally & Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)

Along with declared dogs, restricted breeds are not eligible for a reduced fee and they must be muzzled and leashed when off your premises. The following breeds are restricted:  

  • Pitbull Terrier or American Pitbull Terrier
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Perro de Presa Canario.

You can find out further detail about owning a restricted breed on the Animal Welfare Victoria website.

A working dog is define as a dog that herds, droves, protects, tends or works stock on land used solely or primarily for primary production. Primary production means maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or the product they produce (ie. Wool).

The majority of dog breeds that are included are:

  • Australian Kelpies
  • Australian Cattle Dogs
  • Maremma Sheepdogs
  • Border Collies
  • Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs
  • Pyrenean Mountain Dogs

We may need to investigate further if the breed being registered is different to the above and we may attend the property to view the dog ‘working’ the stock.

If your dog has been trained by a current member of one the following approved organisations, you may be eligible for a reduce fee. Proof of training must be provided.

Obedience training through a vet or otherwise unrecognised trainer will not be considered for this discount.