Important obligations for dog owners

Microchipping and registration are key responsibilities of dog ownership in Tasmania. They are required by law in most cases and help keep dogs safe and reunite lost pets with their owners.

Desexing is not legally required for most dogs but is strongly recommended to support population control and animal health.

Under the Dog Control Act, all dogs must be:

  • registered with the local council
  • microchipped by six months of age (unless exempt).

About microchipping

A microchip is a tiny device (about the size of a grain of rice) implanted under the skin between a dog’s shoulders by a vet or authorised person in an animal welfare shelter. Each chip has a unique identification number linked to contact details in an animal registry.

Microchipping requirements

All dogs in Tasmania must be microchipped by six months of age, unless exempt. When purchasing or adopting a dog, it should already be microchipped or arrangements should be made as soon as possible for it to be microchipped.

If an unmicrochipped dog is found roaming, the council may arrange for it to be microchipped and require payment of the cost before the dog is returned.

Contact the relevant local council for microchipping requirements and costs. You can find your council's website in the Tasmanian council directory.

Microchip registries

A dog’s microchip must be recorded with an accredited national registry, and the owner must keep contact details up to date.

Dogs in Tasmania can be registered with any of the following services:

Racing greyhounds can also be registered with the Tasracing Integrity Unit.

Checking and updating details

Check which registry a dog is on using the Pet Address search. If the registry has closed, Pet Address can also be used to find and transfer the record to another accredited registry.

Under the law, owners must notify the registry of changes to their address or phone number, or if the dog is sold or given away.

Microchipping exemptions

Most dogs must be microchipped by six months of age. The following exemptions apply in limited circumstances:

Working dogs

Dogs whose primary, day-to-day role is one of the following are exempt from microchipping:

  • droving or tending livestock
  • detecting illegal substances
  • searching, tracking or rescuing
  • working with police officers.

This exemption is based on the dog’s main function. A dog kept primarily as a pet (even on a farm) must be microchipped.

Veterinary exemption

A registered vet may issue an official certificate exempting a dog from microchipping if the procedure would be harmful to the dog’s health or welfare.

Hunting dogs

Some hunting dogs may temporarily use a tattoo instead of a microchip until they reach 1 year old, if all of the following apply:

  • the dog is less than 12 months old
  • the tattoo was applied by an approved organisation (currently the North West Hound Owners Association or the Tasmanian Field and Game Association)
  • the tattoo is the organisation’s official mark.

Once the dog turns 1 year old, the dog must be microchipped.

Racing greyhounds

Racing greyhounds must be microchipped by six months of age. An exemption previously applied to greyhounds born before 1 January 2011 that were still actively registered for racing. This no longer applies to new registrations.

About dog registration

All dogs in Tasmania must be registered with the local council by six months of age. It is an offence to conceal a dog to avoid registration.

Registration process

Applications must be lodged with the council in the area where the dog is kept. The application generally requires:

  • a completed registration form
  • the registration fee
  • the dog’s microchip number.

Once registered, the council will issue a registration tag for the dog’s collar. The tag shows a unique number and an expiry date.

Collars and tags in public

Dogs must wear a collar with the registration tag attached whenever in a public place, except when actively engaged in an exempt activity such as:

  • working (such as herding livestock)
  • hunting
  • racing
  • competing in trials
  • participating in a dog show
  • training for any of the above.

Updating registration details

Owners are required to notify the council in writing within 14 days if:

  • they change address
  • ownership of the dog changes (both the old and new owners must notify the council)
  • the dog dies or is lost.

Failure to register or update registration details can result in fines.

About desexing

Desexing (also called sterilising, spaying, neutering or castrating) is a one-time surgical procedure performed by a vet to prevent a dog from reproducing. Except for dangerous and restricted breed dogs, there is no legal requirement to desex a dog.

When to desex

Most dogs are desexed between three and six months of age. Go to the RSPCA Australia website for information about the benefits of desexing.

Desexing dangerous and restricted breed dogs

Dogs declared as dangerous or belonging to a restricted breed must be desexed at the owner’s expense. Failure to comply allows the council to seize and hold the dog.

Find out more about dangerous and restricted breed dogs.

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