Pets and Animals

Owning a pet is one of the great joys in life and it’s one that comes with responsibilities around care and responsible ownership.

Registering your cat and dog helps council identify who owns which cats and dogs, how many pets they have and where they live.

If you move, make sure you update your pet’s new address so you can be reunited if they become lost.

Update pet registration details

Refuge and recovery

One of the most important benefits of pet registration and identification is that it allows an effective rescue and refuge service.

Pets roaming our streets are often alone and afraid, with the potential to be hurt or involved in neighbourhood disturbances. Council attempts to reunite owners with their lost pets. If your pet is lost or strays, a council registration tag is your best safeguard to ensure getting your pet back quickly and safely.

It's important to regularly check that your pet's tag is visible, safely secured and undamaged.

Registering your cat or dog is simple and can be completed online or at one of Council’s Customer Service Centres.

Cats and dogs aged 12 weeks and older living in the Mackay region must be registered with Mackay Regional Council. It is important to register your dog and cat as soon as you get it or within 14 days if you have moved to Mackay.

Registration renewals are issued on June 1 each year and are due by June 30. An early payment discount applies to registrations paid before the due date.

Discounts are available for eligible pet registrations, including:

When a cat or dog is registered, it is issued with a registration tag that must be worn whenever the animal is outside its place of residence. The tag allows for pet owners to be contacted if their animals are found away from home.

Mackay Regional Council issues lifetime registration tags, so you will not receive a new tag each year when your registration is renewed.

As the registration tags help your pets to be returned home if lost, it is important to regularly check that your pet's tag is visible, safely secured and undamaged.

If your tag is lost or damaged, replacement tags can be ordered online or through one of council’s Customer Service Centres free of charge.

• Order a replacement registration tag

It’s important to note, council does conduct compliance checks and penalties such as on-the-spot fines can be issued if an animal is found to be unregistered.

Inspection program

Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, council is required to conduct inspections to ensure that all cats and dogs are registered.

Each year, council conducts an approved, systematic inspection program in accordance with Section 113 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

The checks will cross reference registration data on council systems and also use Geographical Information System Data to identify areas with low registration rates.

The inspection program permits authorised officers to enter properties within the bounds of council’s local government area.  All officers will carry relevant identification.  

A copy of the authorisation can be viewed at council’s administration offices or can be purchased for a small fee.

Please complete the form below to notify council in relation to any of the following changes to your pet's registration:

• Now desexed
• New microchip number
• Pensioner animal owner
• Change of address or contact details
• Change of ownership

Update pet registration details

You can apply to deregister your pet in the following circumstances:

• Your pet has been rehomed
• Your pet is deceased
• You have moved outside the Mackay Regional Council area.

Please note: If your pet is a "regulated dog" (menacing or dangerous), a statutory declaration or veterinary certificate is required.

Deregistration