Registering your pet

Pets & Animals

Owning a pet

Your pet must be 3 months or over and microchipped prior to registering.

Download a hard copy

A tag will be sent to attach to your pet's collar once registered.

Need more information about animal registration submit enquiry.

What you need to know

Pet ownership can be a very rewarding experience. There are responsibilities that go along with pet ownership, and one is to ensure your pet is registered with Council.

This will ensure, should your pet wander from your property, it can be identified and reunited free of charge. Saving you over a thousand dollars in impound fees.

Your Council registration fee gives you more than just a lost and found service for your pet.

It is also funds:

  • Facilities such as dog parks and the municipal pound
  • Dog waste bags and bins
  • Staff to respond to animal related enquiries
  • Responsible pet ownership information available via publications and websites
  • 24/7 emergency response service
  • Discount incentive schemes for new registrations
  • Monitor and enforce standards on dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs.

A reminder Your Pet registration is NOT the same as a microchip registration.

 

You will be sent a Renewal of Registration for payment as your registration will expire 10 April, each year.

If you pet sadly passes away please advise us on council@mvcc.vic.gov.au

You must notify us if you transfer ownership of your pet. If the new owner resides outside of Moonee Valley, the new owner must also notify the council where they reside.

Need more information about transferring ownership submit enquiry.

Pay your pet registration / renewal

Download a hard copy registration form.

Full fee (microchipped, not desexed, under 10 years old) $141 $70.50
Microchipped and desexed $46 $23
Over 10 years $40 $20
Declared dangerous dogs or menacing dogs or restricted breed dogs $228 Can’t be registered online $228 Can’t be registered online
Commercial guard dog (declared dangerous) $142 Can’t be registered online $142 Can’t be registered online
Service dogs (guide, customs, police dogs) No charge No charge
Victorian Canine Association Member $46 $23
Full fee (microchipped, not desexed, under 10 years old) $112 $56
Microchipped and desexed $29 $14.50
Over 10 years $27 $13.50

If you keep more animals than listed, you will need to submit an Extra Animals Permit Application online. Permits expire on 10 April annually and the permit fee for the 2023/24 year is $41.00.

Poultry (excluding roosters) 0 6
Caged birds 5 15
Roosters 0 0
Dogs 1 2
Cats 1 2
Rabbits 1 5
Rodents 2 6
Reptiles 5 5
Racing pigeons 0 40
Farm animals 0 Only permitted by permit where there is 2,000m2 of open land per animal
Any other animals 0 0

Dogs are declared to be dangerous if they have previously attacked, are kept to guard an industrial property, or have been trained to attack. There are strict rules on the housing, exercising and ownership of these dogs.

Restricted breads are considered a higher risk to community safety even though they may have not attacked a person or animal or displayed signs of aggression. These include: 

  • American Pit Bull Terrier (or Pit Bull Terrier)
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario)

Contact us on 9243 8888 if you have any concerns regarding restricted breed dogs.

Check out some of our local dog obedience clubs.

Dogs are never allowed within 15 metres of a playground, barbecue or exercise equipment. You must pick up after your dog and should carry bags with you at all times.

They must be under effective control, even if they are on lead. This means the dog returns when called, can be seen if off-lead, is secure when on a lead, and does not bother or attack any person or animal.

All dogs must be walked on a leash when outside their property unless they are in one of Council’s off-leash parks:

  • Aberfeldie Park, The Boulevard, Aberfeldie
  • Alf Pierce Reserve, First Ave, Strathmore (fenced off-leash dog play area)
  • Cliff Whitworth Reserve, 37A Emerald Street, Essendon West (fenced off-leash dog play area)
  • JH Allan Reserve, Park Drive, East Keilor
  • Boeing Reserve (northern end only), Boeing Road, Strathmore Heights
  • Cross Keys Reserve (eastern end only), Bridge Street, Essendon
  • AJ Davis Reserve, Fullarton Street, Airport West
  • Fairbairn Park, Woods Street, Ascot Vale
  • Spring Gully Reserve, Keilor Road, East Keilor
  • Thompson Street Reserve, Thompson Street, Avondale Heights
  • Travancore Park, Mooltan Street, Flemington

More information on dog parks

Owning a domestic animal business

Domestic animal businesses include:

  • pet shops
  • animal shelters and pounds
  • breeding establishments
  • any premises where boarding occurs
  • dog training establishments.

To register as a Domestic Animal Business:

Animal issues

This request is considered high priority.

Contact us on 9243 8888

Monday to Friday

8.30 am - 5.00 pm.

If the matter is urgent and outside business hours, call 000.

Investigating a dog attack

We understand that the incident may have caused distress, but it is important to write down detail of the incident as early as possible to help the investigation.

Details include:

  • Where the incident happened
  • Time and date of the incident
  • If known, the name of the dog owner
  • Description of the dog
  • Any additional details describing what happened.

Dog attacks, on people or other pets, are serious. If you own a dog that rushes at, chases or bites someone who is either outside your property or trying to access your front door, you may be liable for damages, and you could be charged with offences relating to the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

If your neighbour's dog is barking excessively:

  • if you have an issue with a neighbour’s dog barking excessively, we suggest you speak to the owners first about a possible solution as they may not know there is an issue
  • after a few weeks, see if there have been any changes
  • if you are unable to resolve the issue directly with your neighbour, you can lodge a complaint with us.

For guidance read our dog guide.

To lodge a complaint:

You can only report an issue with Council once you have completed and attached a Barking Dog log. Prior to reporting an issue, please read the Barking Dog Information pack as it outlines the investigation process as well as other useful information.

  • The log needs to be maintained for 14 days so that we can investigate the complaint. You need to send it to us within 7 days of completion.
  • Provide times and duration of the barking.
  • Provide your name and address.
  • Provide the address where the dog lives.
  • Note the effect the barking has on your wellbeing.

Or send these details to Moonee Valley Council, PO Box 126 Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 or email council@mvcc.vic.gov.au.

We aim reunite pets with owners but can only do so if they are registered. If we are unable to contact the pet’s owner, your pet will be taken to the Lost Dogs Home located at:
2 Gracie Street, North Melbourne
9329 2755
info@dogshome.com

If you have found an animal wandering your neighborhood and cannot locate the owner, please call us on 9243 8888.

We support a cat curfew in Moonee Valley, which means all cats should, at the very least, be kept inside your property between sunset and sunrise. However, it's safer for them and our wildlife if they stay inside at all times.

You can hire a cat cage (free of charge) by calling us on 9243 8888. Trapping must be done in line with Council’s Cat Cage Hire Agreement.

Any unidentifiable or unregistered cats will be taken to the Lost Dogs’ Home. Release and registration fees apply.

What to do If you have an unwanted cat visiting your property

  • Check to see if the cat is wearing identification such as collar or tag.
  • Ask neighbours if the cat belongs to them.
  • If owner is known, advise them of the issue being caused by their cat visiting your property and respectfully ask them to keep their cat confined. The owner may be unaware that their cat tis going into other properties.
  • seek advice from your local pet shop or nursery.
  • Citrus, lavender, vinegar or eucalyptus sprays or other specifically formulated cat repellent sprays
  • Motion or timed sprinklers
  • Ultrasonic motion sensors
  • Plant lavender, pennyroyal or rue (a lot of cats don't like these plants)
  • Scatter citrus peels throughout the garden

Limited FREE Cat Desexing

We have limited places available for FREE cat desexing at two participating Vet Clinics in the north-west metro Melbourne area. 

The program will run until all spots are redeemed. You can learn more about the program and check your eligibility by visiting the cat desexing webpage.