Can your lost pet find its way home?
Published on 22 June 2022
Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) is reminding residents of their obligation to have their cats and dogs microchipped, so owners can be contacted if their pets stray from home and they become lost.
“Council has recently experienced a number of pets that have ended up at the Companion Animal Facility, and their family being unable to be contacted because the pet isn’t microchipped or the information the chip contains is outdated,” said LPSC Mayor, Councillor Doug Hawkins OAM.
“In NSW, all cats and dogs, other than exempt cats and dogs, must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or before being sold or given away, whichever happens first.
“Microchipping is a quick and harmless procedure where a small microchip is inserted between your pet's shoulder blades. Modern microchips are about the size of a grain of rice. No personal information is stored on the microchip, only the unique identification number.
If your microchipped pet goes astray and is taken to a vet, pound or shelter, we use the microchip's data to reunite you with your pet.
“You can have your pet microchipped at a local vet or animal welfare organisation.” said Cr Hawkins.
The NSW Pet Registry https://www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au/#/ allows cat and dog owners to update their pet’s details. You can also update details in person at Council’s Customer Service Desk. The pet registry enables lost pets to be reunited with their owners, allows them to create an owner profile, update contact details, transfer ownership of pets, report missing pets and to pay most lifetime registration fees online. Paper forms are still available for those who are unable to use the online Pet Registry. Further information can be found on Council website at: https://www.liverpoolplains.nsw.gov.au/Services/Pets-and-animals/Microchipping-and-registering-your-pet
“Council posts details of pets that end up at the Companion Animal Facility on its Facebook page in an attempt to locate their family and/or to find them new homes. However, up-to-date details on the microchip is the best way to ensure pet and owner can be reunited,” Councillor Hawkins concluded.