Changes to the Law
Changes to the Legislation
Over the last year, South Australia’s dog and cat laws have undergone significant reform. The implications of these changes are wide-reaching, affecting owners, breeders, sellers, and local government alike.
Changes to the legislation include:
(Changes commence 1st July 2017 unless stated otherwise)
- Council may seize or detain a dog if:
- The owner has a Prohibition Order
- There is a breach of Control Order
- Increased penalties for non-compliance with the Act:
| Unregistered dog (over 3 months of age) | $170.00 |
| Continuing offence for unregistered dog | $170.00 |
| Failure to notify of changes to business registration | $210.00 |
| Failure to notify council of change to owner/location/etc | $210.00 |
| Failure to microchip dog or cat | $170.00 |
| Further offence for failure to microchip dog or cat | $170.00 |
| Dogs must collar & registration disc | $170.00 |
| Failure to desex dog or cat (where required) | $170.00 |
| Further offence for failign to desex | $315.00 |
| Stray Dog/Dog Wandering at large | $210.00 |
| Dog attack or harassment | $315.00 |
| Transporting unrestrained dogs in vehicle | $210.00 |
| Dog attack on person lawfully entering premises | $315.00 |
| Dog at School/Kindergarten/Child Care/Pre-School | $315.00 |
| Dog in shop without permission from shopkeeper | $315.00 |
| Dog barking or otherwise creating a nuisance | $315.00 |
| Failure to remove faeces | $315.00 |
| Failure of Breeder to register dog before sale | $315.00 |
| Failure of Breeder to microchip dog/cat before sale | $315.00 |
| Failure of Breeder to desex dog/cat before sale | $315.00 |
| Offence to interfere with identification of dog/cat | $315.00 |
| Greyhound without muzzle of off lead | $315.00 |
Control Orders
| Contravention of Control Order | $500.00 |
| Failure to notify Council (attacks/death/missing/etc) | $210.00 |
| Failure to notify Council (transfer area) | $210.00 |
| Failure to notify new owner | $210.00 |
Prescribed Breeds Offences
(List of Prescribed Breeds under Dog Management Tab)
| Unregistered | $750.00 |
| Continue to be unregistered | $750.00 |
| Failure to microchip | $750.00 |
| Further offence for failure to microchip | $750.00 |
| Failure to desex | $750.00 |
| Further offence for failure to desex | $750.00 |
| Stray dog/Wandering at large | $750.00 |
| Dog attack/harassment | $750.00 |
| Attacking a person lawfully entering premises | $750.00 |
| Dog at School/Kindergarten/Child Care/Pre-School | $750.00 |
| Dog in shop without shopkeepers permission | $750.00 |
| Failure to remove faeces | $750.00 |
| Dog not muzzled/off lead/not confined to premises | $750.00 |
Control Orders – Prescribed Breeds
| Contravention of Control Order | $750.00 |
| Failure to notify Council (attacks/death/missing/etc) | $750.00 |
| Failure to notify Council (transfer area) | $750.00 |
| Failure to notify new owner | $750.00 |
Changes to the Dog Registration Categories and Fee Setting
| New Registrations | FREE |
| Non-Standard Dog (General Registration) | $56.00 |
| Desexed Only | $33.50 |
| Microchipped Only | $50.50 |
| Obedience Trained Only | $50.50 |
| Standard Dog (Microchipped/Desexed | $28.00 |
| Desexed/ Trained | $28.00 |
| Microchipped/Trained | $45.00 |
| Trained Standard Dog (Chipped/Desexed/Trained) | $22.50 |
Concession Registrations
| Non-Standard Dog (General Registration) | $28.00 |
| Desexed Only | $16.80 |
| Microchipped Only | $25.00 |
| Obedience Trained Only | $25.00 |
| Standard Dog (Microchipped/Desexed) | $14.00 |
| Desexed/Trained | $14.00 |
| Microchipped/Trained | $22.50 |
| Trained Standard Dog (Chipped/Desexed/Trained) | $11.20 |
Other Rebates
| Working Dog (for tending/droving of livestock only | $14.30 |
| Business Registration (cost/dog for kennels/breeders | $33.70 |
| Racing Greyhound (SAGRB) | $14.30 |
| Accredited Assistance Dog | FREE |
Other Fees
| Transfer of Registration | FREE |
| Replacement Registration Disc | $2.00 |
| Late Registration Fee (applied from 1 September) | $10.00 |
- Mandatory Microchipping of: (commencing 1st July 2018)
- Cats over 12 weeks of age
- Dogs over 12 weeks of age
- Within 28 days of change of ownership of cat or dog
- Mandatory Desexing of: (commencing 1st July 2018)
- New generations of cats before 6 months of age
- New generations of dogs before 6 months of age
- Within 28 days of change of ownership of a cat or dog
- Unregistered dogs will be treated as a new generation & must be desexed
- Breeders/Sellers must:
- Be registered with the Dog & Cat Management Board.
- comply with the Code of Practice (being developed by DEWNR)
- include Breeder registration number in advert
- Desexing & Microchipping has occurred prior to sale
- Sale of Cats or Dogs must:
- All dogs and cats that are sold must be Desexed and Microchipped before sale.
- Include Breeder Registration Number in ad (sale of litters)
- Be Desexed prior to the sale (regardless of age)
- Be Microchipped prior to the sale (regardless of age)
- Orders & Control Orders
- Can be made by Courts for any breach of the Act (Orders).
- Can be made by the Dog & Cat Management Board (Control Orders).
- Can now include the requirement for the owner/dog to attend training.
- Can be made if a dog has attacked, harassed, or chased a person, animal, or bird, or is likely to do so.
