Anyone breeding cats and dogs must ensure the health, safety and happiness of the pets in their care. The breeding essentials below are a starting point to help you meet legal requirements for breeders in NSW.
Breeder microchipping responsibilities
As a breeder, you must microchip cats or dogs before selling or giving them away, or by the time they are 12 weeks old. If you do not microchip them, you may be issued with a fixed penalty notice for $180 or a court may impose a maximum penalty of up to $880.
Before your microchipping appointment, create a litter on the NSW Pet Registry with details for all the puppies or kittens. Once you've booked an appointment, click the ‘Send for microchipping’ button on the ‘Litters’ page and enter your vet or authorised identifier’s email address. This lets them know they can now access these details using their NSW Pet Registry account.
Your vet or authorised identifier will receive an email about how to confirm litter details and enter microchip numbers for each animal online. Once they do this, you will receive a confirmation email and message on your NSW Pet Registry profile.
Many vets and authorised identifiers still use forms to identify animals on the NSW Pet Registry. They will microchip the litter, fill out the form and send it to council for processing.
This means you must wait much longer for microchipping to be confirmed via your NSW Pet Registry profile. You can encourage your vet or authorised identifier to use the more efficient digital system, but ultimately, the choice to use digital or forms is up to them.
What you must know about litters
- Only sell or give cats and dogs to people over 18.
- Only sell or give away puppies and kittens after they’re 8 weeks old.
- It is the breeder’s responsibility to microchip cats and dogs in NSW. You must do this before you sell or give the pets away, or by the time they’re 12 weeks old.
- Puppies and kittens must be vaccinated against common infectious diseases when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old. Follow best-practice advice from your vet.
- You must not sell or give away cats or dogs suspected of being sick, injured, or diseased.
- All pet cats and dogs must be registered either by 12 weeks of age or immediately upon transfer (whichever happens first).
What you must know about your breeding animals
- Your breeding animals must be registered on the NSW Pet Registry.
- A dog or cat must be physically and mentally fit when mated.
- Female dogs (bitches) must not be intentionally mated until they are one year old.
- Bitches must not have more than 2 litters in any 2-year period, unless a veterinary practitioner approves in writing.
- Female cats (queens) must not be intentionally mated during their first oestrous cycle.
- Queens must not have more than 3 litters in any 2-year period, unless a veterinary practitioner approves in writing.
Laws that breeders must follow
Anyone involved in breeding cats and dogs must understand and follow the obligations in the relevant legislation and regulations.
Read theCompanion Animals Act 1998and the Companion Animals Regulation 2018 for:
- detailed information about the responsibilities of owners and breeders
- identification and registration requirements for cats and dogs.
Cat and dog breeders must follow laws protecting animal welfare that the NSW Department of Primary Industries administers, including the below:
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2006
- Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding dogs and cats
Advertising pets in NSW
In NSW, when you advertise that you are selling or giving away kittens, cats, puppies or dogs, you must include an identification number.
This identification number can be the pets’ microchip number, recognised breeder number, or your breeder identification number (BIN), which is issued free of charge when you create a litter for the first time on the NSW Pet Registry. Rehoming organisations must use their rehoming organisation number.