Bookings for our $10 desexing program are now full, and submissions have closed.

If you would like to be considered for any future desexing programs, please send your enquiry via email only to darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au and we will be in contact for eligible residents if a new program is launched.

Thank you for your support.

City of Darwin is offering Department of Family Housing and Community and Anglicare residents living in the Darwin municipality an opportunity to desex, register and microchip their cat or dog for only $10.

On average desexed pets enjoy better health and owners notice a reduction in nuisance behaviours.

Complete the online form below to secure your spot. 

Initiative funded by Northern Territory Government.

FAQs

What is the desexing program? 

Our 12-month subsidised desexing program aims to desex, microchip and register 500 dogs and cats in the Darwin Municipality.

The program is aimed at people suffering financial hardship including people who feed semi-owned and unowned cats.

How does it work? 

Once you have filled in the webform with all your details, a City of Darwin officer will call you to confirm your details and take payment over the phone.

Your details will then be passed to one of the participating vet clinics who will contact you directly to make your booking and guide you on what you need to do in preparation for the procedure.

Please allow up to four (4) working days to be contacted by a City of Darwin officer and a further seven (7) to ten (10) working day to be contacted by a participating vet clinic. 

Who is eligible?

Pet owners: All residents aged 18 years and older with animal/s that reside in the Darwin Municipality. 

Animals: All female and male dogs and cats including adults, kittens, and puppies that are; 

1. Determined as not being a health risk to humans or animals by participating vet 
2. Determined as healthy enough to undergo desexing by participating vet 
3. Dogs that do not have a declared dog status 
4. At least 1kg 
5. Above the age of three months 

How are the ‘Round’ releases decided?

City of Darwin has identified the suburbs with the most impounded animals and have assessed the order of the rounds from this information.

In each scenario, there was always suburbs that had to come last. 

By beginning with the identified high-risk suburbs, we hope to reduce pet-related nuisance complaints in the community.

We ask each eligible pet owner to agree and honour their promise to keep their cats and dogs contained.

City of Darwin will provide all participants with free educational resources to support their responsible pet ownership journey.

Do I have to be a ratepayer in Darwin to access the program?

No. You just need to reside in the Darwin Municipality..

I live in the Darwin Municipality, can I access the program with cats I have been feeding in the neighbourhood but do not own?

Provided the cat/s meet the eligibility criteria and does not have a microchip or other identification device, you can access the program.

However, we ask that you take responsibility for the cat/s microchip and registration and desexing consent form.

When will my animal/s be desexed? 

Once the Vet Clinic your animal/s has been assigned to, contacts you they will make a booking date and time with you directly.

Please allow up to four (4) working days to be contacted by a City of Darwin officer and a further seven (7) to ten (10) working day to be contacted by a participating vet clinic. 

Why does it take so long to be contacted?

We aim to process all requests as quickly as possible however, due to the high volume of interest in the program, you may not hear from a City of Darwin officer immediately.  

Is there a limit to how many of my animals I can book? 

Yes. There is a maximum of 2 dogs per household and 2 cats per household unless you hold a current City of Darwin Licence to keep more than two dogs and or two cats on premises.

Your current Licence to keep more than two cats and or two dogs will need to be shown. 

How do I book my spot? 

Complete the online form for consideration.

If you are found to be eligible for the program, you will be contacted by a City of Darwin officer to confirm your details and make payment over the phone to secure your spot. Please allow up to four (4) working days to be contacted by a City of Darwin officer. 

If you are found ineligible for the program, you may not receive communication from City of Darwin.  

Terms & Conditions

General

• City of Darwin reserves the right to vary these conditions at any time without prior notice. 

Bookings

• Bookings are essential and can be made through the webform.
• Bookings are limited to the Vet Clinics that are participating in the program and your animal/s will be assigned to one of the Vet Clinics at random.  
• Every effort will be made to ensure animals who are booked at the same time, from the same address are assigned to the same Vet Clinic.   
• Each round is limited to 100 spots.  
• Bookings close when spots are filled or when each rounds deadline is met, whichever comes first.  
• Bookings are released in ‘Rounds’.  
• When your suburbs round is open for bookings, you are invited to complete the webform for consideration. If you are found to be eligible for the program, you will be contacted by a City of Darwin officer to confirm your details and make payment over the phone to secure your spot.   
• Please allow up to four (4) working days to be contacted by a City of Darwin officer and a further seven (7) to ten (10) working day to be contacted by a participating Vet Clinic.  
• If you are found ineligible for the program, you may not receive communication from City of Darwin. 

Eligibility

1. The animals' owner and animal/s must reside in the Darwin Municipality. 
2. The dog/s must not be a declared dog. 
3. Maximum of 2 dogs per household and 2 cats per household unless you hold a current City of Darwin Licence to keep more than two dogs and or two cats on premises. 
4. If you are found ineligible for the program, you may not receive communication from City of Darwin. 

Payments

• No refunds for missed appointments.  

• If the vet deems your pet unsafe to perform the desexing procedure on and payment has been made, you are entitled to a full refund. It is your responsibility to contact City of Darwin to make this arrangement within 28 days of your scheduled vet appointment. 

• It is your responsibility to ensure your pet/s meets the eligibility criteria 1, 2 and 3 before making payment. 

• The $10.00 fee is all-inclusive of desexing, microchipping and registration and is per animal and any additional costs are the owner's responsibility. 

• There is no additional discount if the animal/s are already registered and / or microchipped. 

• The $10.00 fee does not cover microchip and / or registration as a standalone item. 

• The $10.00 does not include any additional treatments and or procedures that may be required. If any additional treatment and or procedures are required, the monetary responsibility belongs to the registered owner of the animal/s. 

Booking Form: