NSW pet law revamp: $80 annual permit for undesexed cats, $195 to keep restricted and dangerous dogs

Meanwhile, businesses in NSW that refuse assistance animals or try to charge someone extra for having an assistance animal will face fines doubled to $1650 under proposed revamp of the state’s animal breeding and ownership rules.

In introducing the Companion Animals and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 to state parliament on Wednesday afternoon Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said unscrupulous pet breeders and vendors - particularly those who operate puppy factories - were on notice.

“What this bill does is it recognises people must take control of and have better management and wellbeing of their pets,” he said.

New breeder registration rules that include an upgrade of the statewide pet register database  will see puppies and kittens able to be linked from breeders to litters, potentially identifying cruel overbreeding practices or mistreatment.

There are currently 2.3 million dogs and 750,00 cats on the register.

People purchasing an animal will also have access to a greater range of information on their animal, to ensure they are making an informed purchase.

Mr Blair said the proposed suite of changes come in response to the Companion Animal Inquiry in 2015, and subsequent review of companion animal regulation, with consultation across animal welfare groups, vets, farmers, and local councils.

Mr Blair said many cat owners were not desexing their animals, leading to unwanted litters and high euthanasia rates.

Therefore, on top of the initial lifetime registration fee for a pet in NSW, cat owners will be charged an extra $80 per year for a permit if their cat is not desexed at four months of age.

If it is desexed between four and six months of age, a one-year $80 permit still applies.

Retrospective permits will not be issued.

Laws around restricted and dangerous dogs, including dogs used for hunting, have also been tightened.

It’s going to be a $195 annual fee on top of initial lifetime registration costs for those who own a restricted or dangerous dog, including dogs used for hunting.

Unlike desexed cats, the fee will be retrospective to dogs currently under ownership.

There are 24 dog breeds across both categories, including American pit bull terrier, pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino or fila Brasileiro, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

There are 1500 restricted and 1390 dangerous dogs currently registered in NSW.

As it is more visually difficult to tell if a female dog or cat is desexed, vets and animal owners will also be encouraged to allow for the humane tattooing of the ears of female dogs and cats, something Mr Blair said was a common practice that had fallen away and would prevent unnecessary administration of anaesthesia.

Meanwhile, a loophole will be closed that previously left the door open for people charged with animal cruelty offences to be able to look after animals, even if they had been banned from owning them.

“Sometimes offenders would formally transfer ownership of the pet to a relative or partner and in practice continue to exercise control and influence over animals and how they are cared for,” Mr Blair said.

That law will come into effect on July 1.