Owning a pet brings many benefits to us as owners and can dramatically improve our quality of life. Owning a pet is a large responsibility, not only due to the daily needs of your pet, but also due to the part your pet plays in the community.
When addressing the task of managing dogs and cats, we consider many aspects, including, the benefits of pet ownership and the health and wellbeing of residents.
Responsible pet tenancy and By-Laws
Pets bring great joy to our families, but it’s important to remember that having a pet also comes with responsibilities, including complying with the local regulations for pet ownership. In Darwin, these regulations help ensure the wellbeing of our pets, strengthen the bond between families and their animals, and contribute to the overall happiness of our community. Here’s what you need to know as a pet owner in Darwin:
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Register your pet with the council: registration is mandatory by law as it allows the council to take care of your pet. Do you know how to register your dog/cat and how much is the registration cost? Learn more about pet registration in Darwin and find out how many dogs or cats you can have in Darwin.
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Microchip your pet: this is a must for pet identification and safety, as well as a requirement for pet registration. Get informed about pet microchipping in Darwin.
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Don’t allow your pet to become a nuisance: in City of Darwin a pet owner commits an offence if allowing its pet to become a nuisance. Identify nuisance behaviours and infringement offences by getting familiarised with the Animal By-Laws. If you need any dog or cat behaviour advise, or want to learn about pet training and poultry, get in contact with the Council’s Animal Education Team.
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Desex your pet: City of Darwin strongly recommends desexing your dog/cat. Desexed pets enjoy better health, and it contributes to prevent cat and dog overpopulation. Desexed dogs and cats have lower incidence of nuisance behaviours such as aggression, barking, wandering and fence rushing.
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Ensure your pet’s welfare: all dogs require daily care. This includes ensuring access to fresh food and water, a safe shelter, mental and physical enrichment, parasite prevention, and regular veterinary check-ups to monitor overall health and administer annual vaccinations.
