Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 (ACT)

This Regulation operationalises the Domestic Animals Act 2000 by prescribing detailed registration, identification, licensing, microchipping and registry standards for dogs and cats in the ACT, and by setting administrative processes, offences and enforcement mechanisms to support those standards. It specifies the data required on applications to register dogs and cats (s 4A; s 9AA), the information to be recorded in public registers (s 5; s 9AB), and the particulars that must appear on registration certificates (s 6; s 9AC; s 6C for racing greyhounds). It mandates microchip identification requirements for dogs and cats, including the form and function of an identifying microchip (s 7; s 9), and confers the Minister the power to approve particular microchip types (s 10) and codes of practice (s 16; s 22). The Regulation creates a framework for authorising individuals who implant microchips, and permits the registrar to grant or withdraw such authorisations (s 13; s 14). It regulates domestic animals registry services by requiring that operators be licensed under a corresponding law or otherwise authorised, by empowering the registrar to prohibit non-compliant operators, and by prescribing reporting and data formats for microchip vendors and registry operators (s 12; s 18-22).

The instrument also prescribes licence and control-order conditions for higher-risk situations: multiple dog licences (s 6A), dangerous dog licences (s 6B), prescribed control orders (s 6D), and home impoundment conditions (s 6E). It sets an offence for keeping four or more cats on residential premises without a multiple cat licence, with limited exceptions (s 9A). Several offences are specified, many as strict liability offences, with maximum penalties stated in the Regulation and the value of a penalty unit provided in the republication note (penalty unit values under Legislation Act, s 133 as noted in the republishing preface). The Regulation also establishes administrative and enforcement tools: refusal, suspension and cancellation decisions that are reviewable (s 23; schedule 1); time-limited obligations to respond to registrar requests (s 20); scanning requirements for shelters and pounds within three days of intake (s 17); and consequences for dishonoured credit card transactions when fees are paid (s 24). Codes of practice and certain approvals are produced as disallowable instruments (s 16(2); s 22(2); s 24(5)), giving the Legislative Assembly an indirect oversight mechanism.

Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 SL2001-17 made under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 Republication No 26 Effective: 16 December 2025 Republication date: 16 December 2025 Last amendment made by A2025-29

Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au About this republication The republished law This is a republication of the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001, made under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 (including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 16 December 2025. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 16 December 2025. The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4. Kinds of republications The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au): • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies • unauthorised republications. The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page. Editorial changes The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice. This republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1). Uncommenced provisions and amendments If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register. Modifications If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95. Penalties At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).

R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 contents 1 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 made under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 Contents Page Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of regulation 2 2 Dictionary 2 3 Notes 2 4 Offences against regulation—application of Criminal Code etc 3 Part 2 Dogs 4A Information included in application to register dog—Act, s 6 4 5 Dog registration information—Act, s 8 4 6 Information on dog registration certificates—Act, s 11 (3) 5 6A Multiple dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 21 (4) (a) 5 6B Dangerous dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 26 (3) (a) 7

Contents Page contents 2 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 6C Information on greyhound registration certificates—Act, s 39E 9 6D Prescribed control orders—Act, s 53CA (a) 9 6E Home impoundment prescribed conditions—Act, s 56A (4) (a) and s 60 (4) (a) 11 7 How dogs must be identified—Act, s 83 12 Part 3 Cats 8 Cats to which compulsory identification applies—Act, s 83 14 9 How cats must be identified—Act, s 83 14 9AA Information included in application to register cat—Act, s 84AA 15 9AB Cat registration information—Act, s 84AC 16 9AC Information on cat registration certificate—Act, s 84AH (3) 16 9A Multiple cat licences—requirement to be licensed 17 Part 4 Implanting microchips 10 Approval of identifying microchip 18 11 Selling or supplying fake identifying microchips 18 12 Information to be given to domestic animals registry services 18 13 Authorisation of identifiers 19 14 Withdrawal of authorisation 20 15 Identifying microchip to be implanted only by vet or authorised identifier 20 16 Code of practice about implanting identifying microchips 21 17 Requirement to scan for identifying microchips 21 18 Operation of domestic animals registry services 22 19 Prohibition of certain operators 22 20 Operator to provide information 22 21 Notification of ceasing to operate domestic animals registry services 23 22 Code of practice about operation of domestic animals registry service 23 23 Reviewable decisions—Act, s 118, def reviewable decision 24 23A Right of review and notice—Act, s 119 and 120 (a) 24 Part 5 Miscellaneous 24 Dishonoured etc credit card transactions 25 25 Incorporation of documents 26

Contents Page R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 contents 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Schedule 1 Reviewable decisions 27 Dictionary 32 Endnotes 1 About the endnotes 34 2 Abbreviation key 34 3 Legislation history 35 4 Amendment history 39 5 Earlier republications 43

R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 1 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Australian Capital Territory Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 made under the Domestic Animals Act 2000

Part 1 Preliminary Section 1 page 2 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of regulation This regulation is the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001. 2 Dictionary The dictionary at the end of this regulation is part of this regulation. Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this regulation defines certain terms used in this regulation, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined elsewhere in this regulation. For example, the signpost definition ‘identifying microchip—see section 10.’ means that the term ‘identifying microchip’ is defined in that section. Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to the entire regulation unless the definition, or another provision of the regulation, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)). 3 Notes A note included in this regulation is explanatory and is not part of this regulation. Note See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.

Preliminary Part 1 Section 4 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 4 Offences against regulation—application of Criminal Code etc Other legislation applies in relation to offences against this regulation. Note 1 Criminal Code The Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to all offences against this regulation (see Code, pt 2.1). The chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility (including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used for offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct, intention, recklessness and strict liability). Note 2 Penalty units The Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties that are expressed in penalty units.

Part 2 Dogs Section 4A page 4 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 2 Dogs 4A Information included in application to register dog— Act, s 6 An application to register a dog must include the following information: (a) the applicant’s name, address, email address or other contact information; (b) any conviction or finding of guilt of the applicant within the last 10 years against an animal welfare offence or an offence against the Act (other than an excluded offence); (c) if the dog is kept at another address—the address; (d) the dog’s name; (e) if the dog is a recognisable breed—the breed; (f) the colour of the dog; (g) the unique identification number for any microchip implanted in the dog; (h) a statement as to whether or not the dog is an assistance animal, dangerous dog, racing greyhound or registered racing greyhound; (i) if the dog has been de-sexed—a statement to that effect. 5 Dog registration information—Act, s 8 If the registrar registers a dog, the registrar must record the following information in the register: (a) the information given by the registered keeper under section 4A; (b) the registration number given to the dog;

Dogs Part 2 Section 6 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 5 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (c) if the ownership of the dog has changed—the name, address, email address or other contact information of the former owner; (d) if the registrar is told in writing or becomes aware that the dog has died—a statement that the dog is deceased; (e) if the registration of the dog is renewed—the date of the renewal. 6 Information on dog registration certificates—Act, s 11 (3) A registration certificate for a dog must state the following information: (a) the registration number given to the dog; (b) the unique identification number for the microchip implanted in the dog; (c) if the dog is a recognisable breed—the breed; (d) the colour of the dog; (e) if the dog is an assistance animal—a statement to that effect; (f) the name and address of the registered keeper of the dog; (g) if the registrar registers a dog—the date of registration, and the date the registration ends; (h) if the registrar renews the registration of a dog—the date of renewal of registration, and the date the registration ends. 6A Multiple dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 21 (4) (a) A multiple dog licence may include 1 or more of the following conditions: (a) the licence only applies to stated premises; (b) each dog must be registered and, if required under the Act, de-sexed and microchipped;

Part 2 Dogs Section 6A page 6 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (c) the registration and microchip details for each dog must be up-to-date; (d) the total area of the yard in which the dogs are held must not be less than a stated minimum area; (e) no part of the yard in which the dogs are held may be less than 2m from a boundary fence; (f) each dog must have its own permanent shelter that allows it to be sheltered all day and night from sun, wind and rain; (g) no more than 3 of the dogs may be taken into a public place by the same keeper or carer at the same time; (h) the dogs must be kept in a yard that is enclosed by a fence that— (i) is higher than a stated minimum height; and (ii) is constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (iii) is in good repair and structurally sound; and (iv) has no gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow a dog to escape; (i) any gate or door to a yard in which the dog is kept must— (i) be spring-latched and self-closing; and (ii) be padlocked when the keeper or carer is not in the yard; and (iii) be of a stated minimum height; and (iv) be constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (v) be in good repair and structurally sound; and (vi) not have any gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape;

Dogs Part 2 Section 6B R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 7 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (j) the keeper, any carer and a stated dog must complete a stated course in behavioural or socialisation training for dogs; (k) a stated thing must be done in relation to a stated dog within a stated time. Examples—par (k) 1 de-sexing a dog within 14 days 2 stated veterinary treatment of a dog must be undertaken within 7 days 3 stated evidence of compliance with a stated condition must be given to the registrar within 28 days eg a certificate from a veterinarian 6B Dangerous dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 26 (3) (a) A dangerous dog licence may include 1 or more of the following conditions: (a) the dog must be kept at a stated address for the duration of the licence unless otherwise authorised by the registrar; (b) the registration and microchip details for the dog must be up-to-date; (c) the dog must be kept in a yard that is enclosed by a fence that— (i) is higher than a stated minimum height; and (ii) is constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (iii) is in good repair and structurally sound; and (iv) has no gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape through; (d) any gate or door to a yard in which the dog is kept must— (i) be spring-latched and self-closing; and (ii) be padlocked when the keeper is not in the yard; and (iii) be of a stated minimum height; and

Part 2 Dogs Section 6B page 8 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (iv) be constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (v) be in good repair and structurally sound; and (vi) not have any gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape; (e) if the dog leaves the premises at which the dog is kept, the dog must— (i) only be in the care of the keeper or another stated person who is at least 18 years old; and (ii) be restrained by a leash, or muzzle, of a stated kind; and (iii) be under the effective control of the keeper or other person; and (iv) not be taken into, or within a stated distance of, an off-lead area or another stated place; (f) the dog must not leave the premises at which the dog is kept or may only leave the premises within a stated time or for a stated period; (g) the keeper, any carer and the dog must complete a stated course in behavioural or socialisation training for the dog; (h) a stated thing must be done in relation to the dog within a stated time. Examples—par (h) 1 a certificate of completion of behavioural or socialisation training must be provided within 28 days 2 do stated repairs to a fence 3 affix signs about the dog to stated parts of premises

Dogs Part 2 Section 6C R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 9 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 6C Information on greyhound registration certificates— Act, s 39E A registration certificate for a greyhound registered as a racing greyhound must state the following information: (a) the registration number given to the racing greyhound; (b) the registration number given to the greyhound under the Act, section 11; (c) the name and address of the registered keeper of the dog. 6D Prescribed control orders—Act, s 53CA (a) (1) A control order in relation to a dog may require the keeper or carer to do 1 or more of the following things: (a) keep the dog at a stated address for a stated period unless otherwise authorised by the registrar; (b) register, de-sex or microchip the dog; (c) up-date the dog’s registration and microchip details; (d) ensure that the dog is kept in a yard enclosed by a fence that— (i) is higher than a stated minimum height; and (ii) is constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (iii) is in good repair and structurally sound; and (iv) has no gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape; (e) ensure that any gate or door to a yard in which the dog is kept— (i) is spring-latched and self-closing; and (ii) is padlocked when the keeper or carer is not in the yard; and (iii) is of a stated minimum height; and

Part 2 Dogs Section 6D page 10 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (iv) is constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (v) is in good repair and structurally sound; and (vi) does not have any gaps or holes in, or under it, large enough to allow the dog to escape through; (f) ensure that a warning sign is displayed on all gates and doors at the premises where the dog is kept so that it can be readily seen by a person about to enter the premises through any gate or door; (g) ensure that if the dog leaves the premises at which the dog is kept, the dog must— (i) only be in the care of the keeper or another stated person who is at least 18 years old; and (ii) be restrained by a leash, or muzzle, of a stated kind; and (iii) be under the effective control of the keeper or other person; and (iv) not be taken into, or within a stated distance of, an off-lead area or another stated place; (h) ensure that the dog does not leave the premises at which the dog is kept or ensure that the dog only leaves the premises within a stated time or for a stated period; (i) must complete a stated course in behavioural or socialisation training with the dog; (j) a stated thing in relation to the dog within a stated time. Examples—par (j) a certificate of completion of behavioural or socialisation training must be provided within 28 days (2) In this section: door—see the Act, section 28 (3). warning sign—see the Act, section 28 (3).

Dogs Part 2 Section 6E R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 11 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 6E Home impoundment prescribed conditions— Act, s 56A (4) (a) and s 60 (4) (a) A keeper or carer may be directed to keep a dog on stated premises in accordance with 1 or more of the following conditions: (a) the dog must be kept at the premises for a stated period unless otherwise authorised by the registrar; (b) the dog must be kept in a yard that is enclosed by a fence that— (i) is higher than a stated minimum height; and (ii) is constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (iii) is in good repair and structurally sound; and (iv) has no gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape; (c) any gate or door to a yard in which the dog is kept must— (i) be spring-latched and self-closing; and (ii) be padlocked when the keeper is not in the yard; and (iii) be of a stated minimum height; and (iv) be constructed in a stated way or from a stated material; and (v) be in good repair and structurally sound; and (vi) not have any gaps or holes in or under it large enough to allow the dog to escape through; (d) if the dog leaves the premises at which the dog is kept, the dog must— (i) only be in the care of the keeper or another stated person who is at least 18 years old; and (ii) be restrained by a leash, or muzzle, of a stated kind; and

Part 2 Dogs Section 7 page 12 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (iii) be under the effective control of the keeper or other person; and (iv) not be taken into, or within a stated distance of, an off-lead area or another stated place; (e) the dog must not leave the premises at which the dog is kept or may only leave the premises within stated times or for stated periods; (f) a stated thing must be done in relation to the dog within a stated time. Example—par (f) do stated repairs to a fence 7 How dogs must be identified—Act, s 83 (1) A dog must be identified by an identifying microchip if the dog— (a) is at least 12 weeks old; or (b) has been sold; or (c) is a dangerous dog. (2) The identifying microchip must— (a) be implanted in the dog; and (b) contain a number (the unique identification number) by which the identification particulars for the dog can be worked out; and (c) function properly. (3) The identification particulars for a dog are— (a) the following information about the dog: (i) the dog’s breed; (ii) the dog’s date of birth or age; (iii) the dog’s colour;

Dogs Part 2 Section 7 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 13 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (iv) the dog’s sex; (v) the dog’s reproductive status; (vi) the address where the dog is, or is to be, kept; (vii) the unique identification number of the identifying microchip implanted in the dog; (viii) the identification number of any other microchip implanted in the dog; (ix) the name and business address of the person who implanted the identifying microchip mentioned in subparagraph (vii) and the date it was implanted; (x) whether the dog is a dangerous dog; and (b) the following information about the dog’s owner: (i) the owner’s name and home address and, if different, postal address; (ii) a contact telephone number for the owner; and (c) the name of a person (other than the owner) who can be contacted in relation to the dog and a contact telephone number for the person. (4) However, subsection (1) does not apply to a dog if— (a) the dog is less than 6 months old; and (b) a veterinary practitioner certified in writing, before the dog was 12 weeks old or first sold (whichever is the earlier), that identification of the dog by identifying microchip would be a serious health risk to the dog.

Part 3 Cats Section 8 page 14 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 3 Cats 8 Cats to which compulsory identification applies— Act, s 83 (1) A cat must be identified if the cat— (a) is at least 12 weeks old; or (b) has been sold. (2) However, a cat need not be identified if— (a) the cat is less than 6 months old; and (b) a veterinary practitioner certified in writing, before the cat was 12 weeks old or first sold (whichever is the earlier), that identification of the cat as required by section 9 would be a serious health risk to the cat. 9 How cats must be identified—Act, s 83 (1) The cat must be identified by an identifying microchip that— (a) is implanted in the cat; and (b) contains a number (the unique identification number) by which the identification particulars for the cat can be worked out; and (c) functions properly. (2) The identification particulars for a cat are— (a) the following information about the cat: (i) the cat’s breed; (ii) the cat’s date of birth or age; (iii) the cat’s colour;

Cats Part 3 Section 9AA R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 15 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (iv) the cat’s sex; (v) the cat’s reproductive status; (vi) the address where the cat is, or is to be, kept; (vii) the unique identification number of the identifying microchip implanted in the cat; (viii) the identification number of any other microchip implanted in the cat; (ix) the name and business address of the person who implanted the identifying microchip mentioned in subparagraph (vii) and the date it was implanted; and (b) the following information about the cat’s owner: (i) the owner’s name and home address and, if different, postal address; (ii) a contact telephone number for the owner; and (c) the name of a person (other than the owner) who can be contacted in relation to the cat and a contact telephone number for the person. 9AA Information included in application to register cat— Act, s 84AA An application to register a cat must include the following information: (a) the applicant’s name, address, email address or other contact information; (b) any conviction or finding of guilt of the applicant within the last 10 years against an animal welfare offence or an offence against the Act (other than an excluded offence); (c) if the cat is kept at another address—the address;

Part 3 Cats Section 9AB page 16 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (d) the cat’s name; (e) if the cat is a recognisable breed—the breed; (f) the colour of the cat; (g) the unique identification number for any microchip implanted in the cat; (h) if the cat has been de-sexed—a statement to that effect. 9AB Cat registration information—Act, s 84AC If the registrar registers a cat, the registrar must record the following information in the register: (a) the information given by the registered keeper under section 9AA; (b) the registration number given to the cat; (c) if ownership of the cat has changed—the name, address, email address or other contact information of the former owner; (d) if the registrar is told in writing or becomes aware that the cat has died—a statement that the cat is deceased; (e) if the registration of the cat is renewed—the date of the renewal; (f) if the registrar is satisfied that the cat is born before 1 July 2022—a statement to that effect. 9AC Information on cat registration certificate— Act, s 84AH (3) A registration certificate for a cat must state the following information: (a) the registration number given to the cat; (b) the unique identification number for the microchip implanted in the cat;

Cats Part 3 Section 9A R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 17 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (c) if the cat is a recognisable breed—the breed; (d) the colour of the cat; (e) the name and address of the registered keeper of the cat; (f) if the registrar registers a cat—the date of registration, and the date the registration ends; (g) if the registration of a cat is renewed—the date of renewal of registration, and the date the registration ends; (h) if the registrar is satisfied that the cat is born before 1 July 2022—a statement to that effect. 9A Multiple cat licences—requirement to be licensed (1) A person commits an offence if— (a) the person keeps 4 or more cats on 1 residential premises; and (b) the person does not hold a multiple cat licence to keep the cats on the premises. Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units. (2) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. (3) This section does not apply to— (a) a cat less than 84 days old; or (b) a cat kept by the person for less than 28 days; or (c) a person resident in the ACT for less than 28 days; or (d) a cat that is an assistance animal; or (e) a cat kept on land that is under a lease that allows for an animal care facility.

Part 4 Implanting microchips Section 10 page 18 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 4 Implanting microchips 10 Approval of identifying microchip (1) The Minister may approve a microchip (an identifying microchip) to be used for identifying a domestic animal. (2) An approval is a notifiable instrument. 11 Selling or supplying fake identifying microchips (1) A person commits an offence if— (a) the person sells or supplies a microchip to someone else; and (b) the person represents to the other person that the microchip is an identifying microchip; and (c) the microchip is not an identifying microchip. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. (2) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. 12 Information to be given to domestic animals registry services (1) A person who sells or supplies an identifying microchip to a veterinary practitioner or authorised identifier must give the following information to each operator of a domestic animals registry service in the ACT: (a) the name and address of the veterinary practitioner or authorised identifier; (b) the unique identification number of the microchip in a 15 character numeric or 10 character hexadecimal format and linked to the manufacturer of the microchip and a distribution batch number;

Implanting microchips Part 4 Section 13 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 19 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (c) an allocation list linking the unique identification number to the veterinary practitioner or authorised identifier to whom the microchip was sold or supplied. Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units. (2) The information mentioned in subsection (1) (b) and (c) must be given in an electronic format suitable for incorporation in the records of each operator of a domestic animals registry service in the ACT. (3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against this section if the defendant proves that the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that the information mentioned in subsection (1) had already been, or would be, given to each operator of a domestic animals registry service in the ACT by someone else. 13 Authorisation of identifiers (1) A person may apply to the registrar to be an identifier of domestic animals. (2) The registrar must— (a) authorise the person as an identifier of domestic animals; or (b) refuse to authorise the person as an identifier of domestic animals. (3) The registrar must authorise the person to be an identifier of domestic animals if satisfied that the person— (a) is qualified and competent to be an authorised identifier; and (b) will comply with the requirements of this part in identifying domestic animals. (4) The registrar must give the person written notice of the registrar’s decision.

Part 4 Implanting microchips Section 14 page 20 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 14 Withdrawal of authorisation (1) This section applies if the registrar is satisfied that a person who is authorised as an identifier of domestic animals— (a) is not, or is no longer, qualified or competent to be an authorised identifier; or (b) has been negligent or incompetent in relation to the exercise of the person’s functions as an authorised identifier; or (c) has failed to comply with a requirement of this part in identifying domestic animals. (2) The registrar may, by written notice given to the person, withdraw the person’s authorisation as an identifier of domestic animals. 15 Identifying microchip to be implanted only by vet or authorised identifier (1) A person commits an offence if the person— (a) implants an identifying microchip in a dog or cat; and (b) is not a veterinary practitioner or authorised identifier. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. (2) A person commits an offence if— (a) the person is asked by the keeper or carer of a dog or cat to implant an identifying microchip in the animal; and (b) the person implants a microchip in the animal; and (c) the microchip is not an identifying microchip. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. (3) An offence against subsection (1) or (2) is a strict liability offence.

Implanting microchips Part 4 Section 16 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 21 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (4) A person who is not an authorised identifier commits an offence if the person represents himself or herself to be an authorised identifier. Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units. 16 Code of practice about implanting identifying microchips (1) The Minister may approve a code of practice about the procedures to be followed by a person who implants an identifying microchip in a domestic animal. (2) An approved code of practice is a disallowable instrument. (3) A person who implants an identifying microchip in a domestic animal must comply with a code of practice approved under this section. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. (4) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. 17 Requirement to scan for identifying microchips (1) A person who operates an animal shelter or pound commits an offence if— (a) a dog or cat enters the shelter or pound; and (b) the person does not, within 3 days after the day the animal enters the shelter or pound, scan the animal to find out whether it is implanted with an identifying microchip. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. (2) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. (3) In this section: animal shelter means premises maintained for providing shelter to, or finding new homes for, stray, abandoned or unwanted dogs or cats. pound means premises maintained for impounding dogs or cats.

Part 4 Implanting microchips Section 18 page 22 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 18 Operation of domestic animals registry services (1) A person commits an offence if the person operates a domestic animals registry service in the ACT and the person— (a) is not licensed (however described) to operate a domestic animals registry service under a corresponding law; or (b) is prohibited from operating the service in the ACT under a notice under section 19. Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units. (2) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. 19 Prohibition of certain operators (1) This section applies if the registrar is satisfied that a person who is licensed under a corresponding law to operate a domestic animals registry service is not operating, or will not operate, the service in accordance with a code of practice approved under section 22. (2) The registrar may, by written notice given to the person, prohibit the person from operating the service in the ACT. 20 Operator to provide information (1) A person who operates a domestic animals registry service in the ACT commits an offence if— (a) the registrar asks the person to give the registrar information about the registry service; and (b) the person does not give the registrar the information within 7 working days after the day the person receives the request. Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units. Note The Legislation Act, s 170 and s 171 deal with the application of the privilege against self-incrimination and client legal privilege. (2) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.

Implanting microchips Part 4 Section 21 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 23 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 21 Notification of ceasing to operate domestic animals registry services (1) This section applies to a person who— (a) is licensed (however described) to operate a domestic animals registry service under a corresponding law; and (b) operates a domestic animals registry service in the ACT under the licence. (2) The person commits an offence if— (a) the person’s licence to operate the service is suspended or cancelled under the corresponding law, or the person discontinues operating the service in the ACT for any other reason; and (b) the person does not give the registrar written notice of the suspension, cancellation or discontinuation within 3 working days after the day it happens. Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units. (3) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence. 22 Code of practice about operation of domestic animals registry service (1) The Minister may approve a code of practice about the operation of domestic animals registry services in the ACT. (2) An approved code of practice is a disallowable instrument. (3) A person who operates a domestic animals registry service in the ACT must comply with a code of practice approved under this section. Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units. (4) An offence against this section is a strict liability offence.

Part 4 Implanting microchips Section 23 page 24 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 23 Reviewable decisions—Act, s 118, def reviewable decision A decision mentioned in schedule 1, column 3, under a provision mentioned in column 2 in relation to the decision is prescribed. 23A Right of review and notice—Act, s 119 and 120 (a) An entity mentioned in schedule 1, column 4 is prescribed.

Miscellaneous Part 5 Section 24 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Part 5 Miscellaneous 24 Dishonoured etc credit card transactions (1) If a person pays a fee payable under the Act by credit card and the credit card transaction is not honoured, or is reversed or cancelled— (a) the person is liable for— (i) any charge imposed on the Territory because the credit card transaction is not honoured, or is reversed or cancelled; and (ii) the amount of the credit card payment; and (b) the registrar may suspend the benefit paid for by the credit card until the amount for which the person is liable is paid. (2) The registrar may waive liability under subsection (1) (a) for payment of the charge imposed on the Territory in cases of hardship. (3) The Minister may issue guidelines about the exercise of the registrar’s function under subsection (2). (4) The registrar must comply with any guidelines under this section. (5) A guideline is a disallowable instrument. (6) In this section: benefit means any service under the Act for which a fee is payable, and includes a registration, renewal, licence or permit. credit card includes a debit card.

Part 5 Miscellaneous Section 25 page 26 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 25 Incorporation of documents A statutory instrument under this regulation may apply, adopt or incorporate an instrument as in force from time to time. Note 1 The text of an applied, adopted or incorporated instrument, whether applied as in force from time to time or as at a particular time, is taken to be a notifiable instrument if the operation of the Legislation Act, s 47 (5) or (6) is not disapplied (see s 47 (7)). Note 2 A reference to an instrument includes a reference to a provision of an instrument (see Legislation Act, s 14 (2)).

Reviewable decisions Schedule 1 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 27 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Schedule 1 Reviewable decisions (see s 23 and s 23A) column 1 item column 2 section column 3 decision column 4 entity 1 Act, 7 (1) (b) refuse to register dog applicant for registration 2 Act, 12 refuse to record dog’s new owner as registered keeper under s 7 (1) (b) applicant for registration 3 Act, 13 (2) cancel registration of dog keeper of dog 4 Act, 20 (1) (b) refuse to issue multiple dog licence applicant for licence 5 Act, 21 (1) issue multiple dog licence on conditions applicant for licence 6 Act, 22 (1) or (2) declare dog to be dangerous dog keeper of dog 7 Act, 25 (1) (a) approve issue of dangerous dog licence person who, or whose animal, has been attacked or harassed by dog 8 Act, 25 (1) (b) refuse to issue dangerous dog licence applicant for licence 9 Act, 26 (1) issue dangerous dog licence on conditions applicant for licence 10 Act, 33 vary or refuse to vary special licence licensee whose licence varied or applicant for variation 11 Act, 36 (1) cancel special licence entity whose licence cancelled

Schedule 1 Reviewable decisions page 28 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au column 1 item column 2 section column 3 decision column 4 entity 12 Act, 39C (2) (b) refuse to register racing greyhound applicant for registration 13 Act, 39I (1) (b) refuse to issue racing greyhound controller licence applicant for licence 14 Act, 39J (1) issue racing greyhound controller licence on conditions applicant for licence 15 Act, 43 refuse to issue permit to take dog into prohibited area applicant for permit 16 Act, 43 issue permit to take dog into prohibited area on conditions applicant for permit 17 Act, 53B (2) destroy dog keeper of dog 18 Act, 53B (6) issue control order keeper of dog 19 Act, 53C (2) destroy dog keeper of dog 20 Act, 53C (4) issue control order keeper of dog 21 Act, 62 (2) (c) refuse to release dog because premises where dog will be kept are not secure enough to prevent dog escaping person claiming release of dog 22 Act, 63 (2) (c) refuse to release dog because premises where dog will be kept are secure not enough to prevent dog escaping person claiming release of dog 23 Act, 67A (2) sell seized dog keeper of dog 24 Act, 68A (2) destroy dog keeper of dog

Reviewable decisions Schedule 1 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 29 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au column 1 item column 2 section column 3 decision column 4 entity 25 Act, 70 (4) impose conditions on return of dog keeper of dog 26 Act, 72B (1) (b) refuse to issue breeding licence applicant for licence 27 Act, 72E (1) impose condition on breeding licence licensee 28 Act, 72F (1) refuse to vary breeding licence licensee 29 Act, 72F (2) vary breeding licence on registrar’s initiative licensee 30 Act, 72G (1) cancel a breeding licence person whose licence cancelled 31 Act, 76 (1) refuse to issue permit to keep cat or dog that is not desexed applicant for permit 32 Act, 77 revoke a permit if satisfied that dog or cat is no longer dog or cat to which s 76 (2) applies applicant for permit 33 Act, 84AB (1) (b) refuse to register cat applicant for registration 34 Act, 84AI refuse to record cat’s new owner as registered keeper under s 84AB (1) (b) applicant for registration 35 Act, 84AJ (2) cancel registration of cat keeper of cat 36 Act, 84C (1) (b) refuse to issue multiple cat licence applicant for licence 37 Act, 84D (1) issue multiple cat licence on conditions applicant for licence

Schedule 1 Reviewable decisions page 30 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au column 1 item column 2 section column 3 decision column 4 entity 38 Act, 92 (4) impose conditions on return of seized cat keeper of cat 39 Act, s 98 not register accredited assistance animal applicant for registration 40 Act, s 100 (3) (b) register assistance animal trainer on conditions applicant for registration 41 Act, s 100 (3) (c) refuse to register assistance animal trainer applicant for registration 42 Act, s 101 (1) suspend assistance animal trainer registration assistance animal trainer 43 Act, s 102 cancel assistance animal trainer registration assistance animal trainer 44 Act, s 104 (3) (b) register assistance animal assessor on conditions applicant for registration 45 Act, s 104 (3) (c) refuse to register assistance animal assessor applicant for registration 46 Act, s 105 (1) suspend assistance animal trainer assessor assistance animal assessor 47 Act, s 106 cancel assistance animal assessor registration assistance animal assessor 48 Act, 112 issue nuisance notice keeper of animal or occupier of place 49 Act, 113 refuse to revoke nuisance notice person given notice 50 Act, 114 (1) seize animal keeper of animal

Reviewable decisions Schedule 1 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 31 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au column 1 item column 2 section column 3 decision column 4 entity 51 Act, 114 (4) refuse to return animal keeper of animal 52 13 refuse to authorise person as identifier of domestic animals applicant for authorisation 53 14 withdraw authorisation as identifier of domestic animals entity that has authorisation revoked 54 19 prohibit entity operating domestic animals registry service licensed operator

Dictionary page 32 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Dictionary (see s 2) Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this regulation. Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1 defines the following terms: • home address • penalty unit (see s 133) • person (see s 160) • veterinary practitioner. Note 3 Terms used in this regulation have the same meaning that they have in the Domestic Animals Act 2000 (see Legislation Act, s 148). For example, the following terms are defined in the Domestic Animals Act 2000, dict: • animal welfare offence • carer • control order • dangerous dog • dangerous dog licence • de-sex • effective control • excluded offence • incorporated document • keeper • multiple dog licence • public place • racing greyhound • racing greyhound controller licence • registered keeper • registered racing greyhound • registrar.

Dictionary R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 33 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au authorised identifier means a person who is authorised under section 13 as an identifier of domestic animals. corresponding law means any of the following: (a) Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW); (b) Companion Animals Regulation 2008 (NSW); (c) Domestic Animals Act 1994 (Vic); (d) Domestic Animals Regulations 2005 (Vic). domestic animals registry service means a service of keeping records relating to domestic animals that, in relation to each animal about which records are kept— (a) contain identifying information about the animal and its owner; and (b) are referenced to the animal through information contained in an identifying microchip implanted in the animal. identifying microchip—see section 10. off-lead area means an area declared under the Act, section 40. unique identification number— (a) for a microchip implanted in a dog—see section 7 (4) (b); and (b) for a microchip implanted in a cat—see section 9 (1) (b).

Endnotes 1 About the endnotes page 34 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Endnotes 1 About the endnotes Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes. Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office. Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history. If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering. The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications. 2 Abbreviation key A = Act NI = Notifiable instrument AF = Approved form o = order am = amended om = omitted/repealed amdt = amendment ord = ordinance AR = Assembly resolution orig = original ch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph CN = Commencement notice pres = present def = definition prev = previous DI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously dict = dictionary pt = part disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule Assembly reloc = relocated div = division renum = renumbered exp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No Gaz = gazette RI = reissue hdg = heading s = section/subsection IA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule ins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision LA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law LR = legislation register sub = substituted LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced mod = modified/modification or to be expired

Endnotes Legislation history 3 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 35 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 3 Legislation history This regulation was originally the Domestic Animals Regulations 2001. It was renamed under the Legislation Act 2001. Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 SL2001-17 notified 12 June 2001 (Gaz 2001 No S32) s 1 and s 2 commenced 12 June 2001 (IA s 10B) remainder commenced 21 June 2001 (s 2) as amended by Domestic Animals Regulations Amendment 2001 SL2001-30 notified 30 August 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 35) commenced 30 August 2001 (s 1) Domestic Animals Amendment Regulations 2002 (No 1) SL2002-15 notified LR 19 June 2002 commenced 19 June 2002 (s 2) Statute Law Amendment Act 2002 A2002-30 pt 3.19 notified LR 16 September 2002 s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 19 May 1997 (LA s 75 (2)) pt 3.19 commenced 17 September 2002 (s 2 (1)) Domestic Animals Amendment Act 2002 A2002-44 pt 3 notified LR 2 December 2002 s 1, s 2 commenced 2 December 2002 (LA s 75) pt 3 commenced 3 December 2002 (s 2) Statute Law Amendment Act 2005 A2005-20 sch 3 pt 3.17 notified LR 12 May 2005 s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 8 March 2005 (LA s 75 (2)) sch 3 pt 3.17 commenced 12 November 2005 (s 2 (2) and LA s 79) Domestic Animals (Cat Containment) Amendment Act 2005 A2005-57 pt 3 notified LR 23 November 2005 s 1, s 2 commenced 23 November 2005 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 23 May 2006 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Endnotes 3 Legislation history page 36 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Domestic Animals Amendment Regulation 2008 (No 1) SL2008-18 notified LR 30 April 2008 s 1, s 2 commenced 30 April 2008 (LA s 75 (1)) remainder commenced 1 May 2008 (s 2 and see Domestic Animals Amendment Act 2007 A2007-35, s 2 and CN2008-6) ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) A2008-37 sch 1 pt 1.31 notified LR 4 September 2008 s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2008 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 1 pt 1.31 commenced 2 February 2009 (s 2 (1) and see ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 A2008-35, s 2 (1) and CN2009-2) Statute Law Amendment Act 2009 (No 2) A2009-49 sch 3 pt 3.20 notified LR 26 November 2009 s 1, s 2 commenced 26 November 2009 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 3 pt 3.20 commenced 17 December 2009 (s 2) Domestic Animals Amendment Act 2010 A2010-3 sch 1 pt 1.1 notified LR 17 February 2010 s 1, s 2 commenced 17 February 2010 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 18 February 2010 (s 2) Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 (No 3) A2011-52 sch 1 pt 1.1 notified LR 28 November 2011 s 1, s 2 commenced 28 November 2011 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 1 pt 1.1 commenced 12 December 2011 (s 2) Statute Law Amendment Act 2013 A2013-19 sch 3 pt 3.13 notified LR 24 May 2013 s 1, s 2 commenced 24 May 2013 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 3 pt 3.13 commenced 14 June 2013 (s 2) Domestic Animals (Breeding) Legislation Amendment Act 2015 A2015-9 pt 4 notified LR 7 April 2015 s 1, s 2 commenced 7 April 2015 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 4 commenced 15 September 2015 (s 2 and CN2015-19)

Endnotes Legislation history 3 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 37 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Transport Canberra and City Services Legislation Amendment Act 2017 A2017-2 pt 3 notified LR 22 February 2017 s 1, s 2 commenced 22 February 2017 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 23 February 2017 (s 2) Domestic Animals (Racing Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2017 A2017-44 pt 3 (as am by A2018-11 sch 1) notified LR 5 December 2017 s 1, s 2 commenced 5 December 2017 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 30 April 2018 (s 2) Domestic Animals (Dangerous Dogs) Legislation Amendment Act 2017 A2017-46 pt 3 notified LR 13 December 2017 s 1, s 2 commenced 13 December 2017 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 14 December 2017 (s 2) Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Act 2018 A2018-11 pt 3, sch 1 notified LR 18 April 2018 s 1, s 2 commenced 18 April 2018 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 30 April 2018 (s 2 (1) and see Domestic Animals (Racing Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2017 A2017-44 s 2) sch 1 commenced 30 April 2018 (s 2 (2) and see Domestic Animals (Racing Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2017 A2017-44 s 2) Note Sch 1 amends the Domestic Animals (Racing Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2017 A2017-44. Veterinary Practice Act 2018 A2018-32 sch 3 pt 3.4 notified LR 30 August 2018 s 1, s 2 commenced 30 August 2018 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 3 pt 3.4 commenced 21 December 2018 (s 2 and CN2018-12) Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2019 A2019-35 pt 6 notified LR 10 October 2019 s 1, s 2 commenced 10 October 2019 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 6 commenced 10 April 2020 (s 2 (2))

Endnotes 3 Legislation history page 38 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Act 2021 A2021-11 pt 3 notified LR 19 May 2021 s 1, s 2 commenced 19 May 2021 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3 commenced 1 July 2021 (s 2) Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Act 2022 A2022-6 pt 3, sch 1 pt 1.2 notified LR 13 April 2022 s 1, s 2 commenced 13 April 2022 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 3, sch 1 pt 1.2 commenced 1 July 2022 (s 2) Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Act 2025 A2025-13 pt 7 notified LR 26 May 2025 s 1, s 2 commenced 26 May 2025 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 7 commenced 9 June 2025 (s 2 (1)) Statute Law Amendment Act 2025 A2025-29 sch 4 pt 4.59 notified LR 6 November 2025 s 1, s 2 commenced 6 November 2025 (LA s 75 (1)) sch 4 pt 4.59 commenced 16 December 2025 (s 2 (6))

Endnotes Amendment history 4 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 39 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 4 Amendment history Preliminary pt 1 hdg ins A2005-57 s 18 Name of regulation s 1 am R6 LA Dictionary s 2 om R1 (IA s 43 (4)) ins A2002-30 amdt 3.241 sub A2005-57 s 19 am SL2008-18 s 4 Notes s 3 sub A2002-30 amdt 3.241; A2005-57 s 19 Offences against regulation—application of Criminal Code etc s 4 sub A2002-30 amdt 3.241; A2002-44 s 23; A2005-57 s 19 Dogs pt 2 hdg ins A2005-57 s 19 Information included in application to register dog—Act, s 6 s 4A ins A2022-6 amdt 1.21 Dog registration information—Act, s 8 s 5 sub A2002-30 amdt 3.241; A2005-57 s 19 am A2017-46 s 143; pars renum R19 LA; A2018-11 s 68; A2021-11 ss 12-14; pars renum R23 LA sub A2022-6 amdt 1.21 Information on dog registration certificates—Act, s 11 (3) s 6 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 am SL2008-18 s 5; A2017-46 s 144; pars renum R19 LA; A2018-11 s 69; A2021-11 s 15; A2022-6 amdt 1.22 Multiple dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 21 (4) (a) s 6A ins SL2008-18 s 6 om A2017-46 s 145 ins A2018-11 s 70 Dangerous dog licence prescribed conditions—Act, s 26 (3) (a) s 6B ins A2018-11 s 70 Information on greyhound registration certificates—Act, s 39E s 6C ins A2018-11 s 70 am A2022-6 amdt 1.23 Prescribed control orders—Act, s 53CA (a) s 6D ins A2018-11 s 70

Endnotes 4 Amendment history page 40 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Home impoundment prescribed conditions—Act, s 56A (4) (a) and s 60 (4) (a) s 6E ins A2018-11 s 70 How dogs must be identified—Act, s 83 s 7 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 7 (7), (8) exp 1 May 2011 (s 7 (8)) am A2017-46 s 146; A2018-11 s 71, s 72; ss renum R20 LA; A2018-32 amdt 3.7 Cats pt 3 hdg ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 8 Cats to which compulsory identification applies—Act, s 83 s 8 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 am A2018-32 amdt 3.7 How cats must be identified—Act, s 83 s 9 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 am SL2008-18 ss 9-11 (3), (4) exp 30 June 2008 (s 9 (4)) Information included in application to register cat—Act, s 84AA s 9AA ins A2022-6 s 13 Cat registration information—Act, s 84AC s 9AB ins A2022-6 s 13 Information on cat registration certificate—Act, s 84AH (3) s 9AC ins A2022-6 s 13 Multiple cat licences—requirement to be licensed s 9A ins SL2008-18 s 12 Implanting microchips pt 4 hdg ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 Approval of identifying microchip s 10 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 am A2025-29 amdt 4.59 Selling or supplying fake identifying microchips s 11 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13

Endnotes Amendment history 4 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 41 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Information to be given to domestic animals registry services s 12 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 am A2018-32 amdt 3.7 Authorisation of identifiers s 13 om A2005-20 amdt 3.140 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 Withdrawal of authorisation s 14 sub A2005-57 s 19; SL2008-18 s 13 Identifying microchip to be implanted only by vet or authorised identifier s 15 hdg sub A2010-3 amdt 1.1 s 15 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 am A2018-32 amdt 3.7 Code of practice about implanting identifying microchips s 16 ins A2005-57 s 19 sub SL2008-18 s 13 am A2025-29 amdt 4.59 Requirement to scan for identifying microchips s 17 orig s 17 renum as s 24 pres s 17 ins SL2008-18 s 13 Operation of domestic animals registry services s 18 ins SL2008-18 s 13 Prohibition of certain operators s 19 ins SL2008-18 s 13 Operator to provide information s 20 ins SL2008-18 s 13 Notification of ceasing to operate domestic animals registry services s 21 ins SL2008-18 s 13 Code of practice about operation of domestic animals registry service s 22 ins SL2008-18 s 13 am A2025-29 amdt 4.59 Reviewable decisions–Act, s 118, def reviewable decision s 23 ins SL2008-18 s 13 sub A2008-37 amdt 1.126

Endnotes 4 Amendment history page 42 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Right of review and notice–Act, s 119 and 120 (a) s 23A ins A2008-37 amdt 1.126 Miscellaneous pt 5 hdg ins A2005-57 s 19 Dishonoured etc credit card transactions s 24 hdg sub A2025-13 s 16 s 24 (prev s 17) ins A2005-57 s 19 renum as s 24 R9 LA (see SL2008-18 s 14) am A2025-13 ss 17-19; A2025-29 amdt 4.59 Incorporation of documents s 25 ins SL2008-18 s 15 am A2013-19 amdt 3.84; A2025-29 amdt 4.59 Reviewable decisions sch 1 sub SL2001-30 s 3 am SL2002-15 s 4; items renum R3 LA (see SL2002-15 s 5) om A2005-20 amdt 3.141 ins A2008-37 amdt 1.127 am A2011-52 amdt 1.1; items renum R15 LA; A2015-9 s 16; items renum R17 LA; A2017-2 s 5, s 6; items renum R18 LA; A2017-46 ss 147-150; items renum R19 LA; A2018-11 ss 73-75; items renum R20 LA; A2019-35 s 132; items renum R22 LA; A2021-11 s 16, s 17; A2022-6 s 14, amdt 1.24; items renum R24 LA Dictionary dict ins A2005-57 s 20 sub SL2008-18 s 16 am A2009-49 amdt 3.45; A2013-19 amdt 3.85; A2017-46 s 151; A2017-44 s 39; A2018-11 s 77; A2018-32 amdt 3.7; A2021-11 s 18 def authorised identifier ins A2005-57 s 20 sub SL2008-18 s 16 def corresponding law ins SL2008-18 s 16 am A2013-19 amdt 3.86; A2015-9 s 17 def domestic animals registry service ins SL2008-18 s 16 def identifying microchip ins A2005-57 s 20 sub SL2008-18 s 16 def off-lead area ins A2018-11 s 76 def unique identification number ins SL2008-18 s 16

Endnotes Earlier republications 5 R26 16/12/25 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 page 43 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 5 Earlier republications Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order. Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical. Republication No Amendments to Republication date 1 not amended 1 July 2001 2 SL2001-30 30 August 2001 3 SL2002-15 19 June 2002 4 A2002-30 17 September 2002 5 A2002-44 3 December 2002 6 A2002-44 2 November 2004 7 A2005-20 12 November 2005 8 A2005-57 23 May 2006 9 (RI) ‡ SL2008-18 3 March 2011 10 (RI) ‡ SL2008-18 3 March 2011 11 (RI) ‡ A2008-37 3 March 2011 12 (RI) ‡ A2009-49 3 March 2011 13 (RI) ‡ A2010-3 3 March 2011 14 A2010-3 2 May 2011 15 A2011-52 12 December 2011 16 A2013-19 14 June 2013 17 A2015-9 15 September 2015 18 A2017-2 23 February 2017 19 A2017-46 14 December 2017 20 A2018-11 30 April 2018

Endnotes 5 Earlier republications page 44 Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 Effective: 16/12/25 R26 16/12/25 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Republication No Amendments to Republication date 21 A2018-32 21 December 2018 22 A2019-35 10 April 2020 23 A2021-11 1 July 2021 24 A2022-6 1 July 2022 25 A2025-13 9 June 2025 ‡ includes textual correction in s 9 © Australian Capital Territory 2025

The regulation is structured around several recurring regulatory concepts: identification, registration, licensing, accreditation/authorisation, codes of practice, registry services, prescribed conditions/control orders, and enforcement.

Identification and microchipping. The Regulation requires dogs and cats to be identified by an implanted identifying microchip in defined circumstances: for dogs aged 12 weeks or older, sold dogs, or dangerous dogs (s 7(1)); for cats aged 12 weeks or older or sold cats (s 8(1); s 9(1)). An identifying microchip must be implanted, contain a unique identification number and function properly (s 7(2); s 9(1)). The Regulation defines the required identification particulars for animals and owners (s 7(3); s 9(2)), and prescribes the acceptable formats for unique identification numbers in transmission to Australian Capital Territory domestic animals registry operators (s 12(1)(b): 15-character numeric or 10-character hexadecimal). The Minister may approve particular microchips (s 10), and a code of practice about implanting microchips may be approved and made binding on implanting persons (s 16).

Registration. Applications to register a dog or cat must include prescribed personal and animal data (s 4A; s 9AA). The registrar must record the application information and administrative events such as transfer of ownership and death (s 5; s 9AB). Registration certificates must include specified information (s 6; s 9AC), and there are additional registration certificate requirements for racing greyhounds (s 6C).

Licensing and prescribed conditions. The Regulation lists conditions that may be attached to multiple dog licences and dangerous dog licences (s 6A; s 6B). These include premises-specific restrictions, registration and microchip requirements, fencing and gate specifications, limits on numbers taken into public places, and training requirements. Similarly, control orders and home-impoundment directions may include parallel conditions (s 6D; s 6E). Multiple cat licences are enforced via an offence for keeping four or more cats on a residential premises without a licence (s 9A).

Registry services and data flows. The Regulation defines a domestic animals registry service (dictionary), requires microchip suppliers to provide allocation lists and operator-ready electronic data (s 12(1)-(2)), and regulates operators by making operation without a corresponding-law licence or under a registrar prohibition an offence (s 18). The registrar may prohibit an operator not complying with an approved code of practice (s 19), and operators must supply information on request within seven working days (s 20) and notify cessation of service within three working days (s 21).

Authorisation and oversight. Individuals who implant microchips must be veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers; the registrar authorises identifiers (s 13) and may withdraw authorisation for incompetence, negligence or failure to comply with requirements (s 14). Codes of practice for implanting microchips and for operating registry services are disallowable instruments (s 16(2); s 22(2)), and some decisions under the Act are prescribed as reviewable (s 23; schedule 1), with entities prescribed for rights of review (s 23A).

Offences and strict liability. The Regulation specifies numerous offences, often with explicit maximum penalties and repeated statements that the offence is a strict liability offence (for example s 11(2); s 15(3); s 16(4); s 17(2); s 18(2); s 20(2); s 21(3); s 22(4); s 9A(2)). The nature of strict liability offences here is set out in the provisions; the Criminal Code’s chapter on general criminal responsibility applies to all offences against the Regulation (s 4). The republication preface records the value of penalty units at the relevant date for calculating fines.

Administrative instruments. The Regulation permits incorporation of other instruments and allows statutory instruments under the Regulation to apply, adopt or incorporate another instrument as in force from time to time (s 25). It also designates certain Ministerial approvals and codes as notifiable or disallowable instruments (s 10(2); s 16(2); s 22(2); s 24(5)), creating an avenue for parliamentary oversight under the Legislation Act.

Keepers and registered owners. The Regulation imposes direct duties and potential penalties on keepers of dogs or cats. They must ensure microchipping and registration where required (s 7; s 9), keep registration and microchip details up-to-date where this is a licence or order condition (s 6A(b); s 6B(b); s 6D(c); s 6E(b)), and comply with control orders and home-impoundment conditions if applied (s 6D; s 6E). Keepers face specific offences: for example, a person keeping 4 or more cats on one residential premises without a multiple cat licence commits an offence (s 9A(1)) with a 20 penalty unit maximum and strict liability (s 9A(2)). Owners transferring animals generate record-keeping duties because the register must record former owner contact information when ownership changes (s 5(c); s 9AB(c)).

Veterinary practitioners and authorised identifiers. Only veterinary practitioners and authorised identifiers may implant identifying microchips (s 15(1)). Vendors of microchips who supply them to veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers must provide allocation lists and the unique identification numbers to each ACT domestic animals registry service operator in a specified electronic format (s 12(1)-(2)). Veterinary practitioners will therefore be a node in data flows and may be the named identifier on registration particulars (s 7(3)(a)(ix); s 9(2)(a)(ix)). The registrar may authorise identifiers (s 13) and withdraw authorisations for incompetence or non-compliance (s 14), so these professionals are subject to authorisation and disciplinary risk.

Domestic animals registry service operators and microchip suppliers. Operators must be licensed under a corresponding law to operate domestics registry services, or risk offence and prohibition (s 18). The Regulation creates obligations to comply with approved codes of practice (s 22), to provide information on request within seven working days (s 20), and to notify the registrar promptly if the operator ceases to operate under its corresponding-law licence (s 21). Microchip sellers must submit identification number allocations and linked batch/manufacturer data in the required formats (s 12(1)(b)-(c)), with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units for failure (s 12(1) and (3)).

Registrars and the Minister. The registrar is the central administrative decision-maker. The registrar must record registration data (s 5; s 9AB), decide on authorisations of identifiers (s 13), withdraw authorisations (s 14), prohibit registry operators where they do not operate in accordance with approved codes of practice (s 19), ask for and receive operator information (s 20), receive notice of discontinuation (s 21) and give written notice of decisions under authorisation/withdrawal (s 13(4); s 14(2)). The registrar also issues directions such as control orders, home impoundment and licence conditions under the Act as referenced in the schedule of reviewable decisions (schedule 1). The Minister may approve microchip types and codes of practice, and issue guidelines on hardship for waiving dishonour charges (s 10(1); s 16(1); s 22(1); s 24(3)).

Shelters and pounds. Operators of shelters and pounds must scan any dog or cat entering the premises within three days to determine if it bears an identifying microchip (s 17(1)). Failure to do so is a strict liability offence carrying a maximum 10 penalty-unit fine (s 17(1)-(2)). This affects municipal, NGO, and private operators of such facilities.

Licence applicants and persons subject to control orders. Applicants for multiple dog licences, dangerous dog licences, breeding licences, racing greyhound licences and other permissions under the Act are subject to conditions listed or referred to in the Regulation (s 6A; s 6B; schedule 1 items 4-15, 26-37). The schedule also lists the entities with rights of review for a variety of registrar or ministerial decisions (s 23; s 23A; schedule 1).

Persons paying fees. Those paying fees under the Act by credit card are liable to reimburse the Territory for any bank charge and to pay the underlying amount if the transaction is dishonoured, reversed or cancelled; the registrar may suspend the benefit until payment is made, subject to a hardship waiver regime (s 24).

Duties to identify and to register. Keepers must ensure dogs and cats meet the identification criteria set out in the Regulation. Dogs must be microchipped if 12 weeks old, sold, or dangerous (s 7(1)). Cats must be microchipped if 12 weeks old or sold (s 8(1); s 9(1)). Identification requires implantation, a functioning microchip and a unique identification number linkable to prescribed identification particulars (s 7(2)-(3); s 9(1)-(2)). Applicants to register animals must include specified owner and animal particulars (s 4A; s 9AA). Registrars must record those particulars, renewals, transfers of ownership and deaths in the register (s 5; s 9AB).

Duties on implanting and authorisation. Only veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers may implant identifying microchips (s 15(1)). A person may apply for authorisation as an identifier (s 13). The registrar must authorise applicants who are satisfied of their competence and likely compliance (s 13(3)) and notify the applicant of decisions in writing (s 13(4)). The registrar may withdraw authorisation where the authorised person is no longer competent, has been negligent or failed to comply with requirements (s 14).

Information supply and data format obligations. Sellers of identifying microchips who supply them to veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers must provide each ACT domestic animals registry operator with the name and address of the recipient, the unique identification number in a specified format, and an allocation list linking numbers to the recipient (s 12(1)(a)-(c)). The data must be provided electronically in a format suitable for inclusion in registry records (s 12(2)). There is a statutory defence where the supplier reasonably believed someone else would provide the information (s 12(3)).

Registry operation and operator duties. A person operating a domestic animals registry service in the ACT must be licensed under a prescribed corresponding law or otherwise be authorised (s 18(1)(a)); operating when not licensed, or where prohibited under a registrar notice, attracts a maximum 20 penalty unit fine and is strict liability (s 18(1)-(2)). Operators must provide information upon registrar request within seven working days (s 20(1)) and must notify the registrar in writing within three working days if their licence is suspended, cancelled or they discontinue service (s 21(1)-(2)). Operators must comply with any code of practice approved under s 22 (s 22(3)).

Licence and condition duties. Multiple dog licences, dangerous dog licences, control orders and home-imprisonment directions may include specific conditions about premises, fencing, gates, restraints, age and supervision of handlers, training, veterinary treatment, and time-limited compliance steps (s 6A; s 6B; s 6D; s 6E). The registered keeper or carer is the person primarily subject to most of these conditions (see s 6D(1)).

Rights of review. The Regulation prescribes a long list of reviewable decisions under the Act (s 23; schedule 1). It prescribes certain entities as having rights of review under the Act s 119 and s 120(a) (s 23A). This provides applicants, licensees, keepers and other affected persons with administrative-review rights for many core decisions (see schedule 1 columns 2-4).

Offences, penalties and relief. Many obligations carry specific criminal penalties. Several offences are designated strict liability (for example s 11(2); s 15(3); s 16(4); s 17(2); s 18(2); s 20(2); s 21(3); s 22(4); s 9A(2)). The Criminal Code’s general principles apply to all offences against the Regulation (s 4). The republished law indicates the value of penalty units on the republication date; individual and corporate penalty unit values are noted in the republication preface.

Administrative discretion and guidelines. The Minister may approve codes of practice and microchips (s 10; s 16(1); s 22(1)). The registrar must comply with any Ministerial guidelines about hardship for waiving dishonour charges and may waive charges in hardship cases (s 24(2)-(4)). Codes and guidelines are produced as notifiable or disallowable instruments and are therefore subject to parliamentary oversight (s 10(2); s 16(2); s 22(2); s 24(5)).

Offence framework and the Criminal Code. The Regulation explicitly states that all offences against it are subject to the Criminal Code chapter on general criminal responsibility (s 4). This means general defences and principles in the Criminal Code apply unless a provision specifies strict liability, in which case mens rea is not required for conviction (as the Code permits strict liability offences in subordinate legislation). The preface to the republication records penalty unit values for the relevant date and points to the Legislation Act s 133 for calculation.

Specified penalties. The Regulation sets maximum penalties for a variety of contraventions:

Selling or supplying a non-identifying microchip while representing it as identifying: maximum 10 penalty units (s 11(1)); strict liability (s 11(2)).
Failure by microchip sellers to provide required information to registry operators: maximum 20 penalty units (s 12(1)).
Implantation by a non-veterinary practitioner/unauthorised identifier, or implanting a non-identifying microchip when requested: maximum 10 penalty units per offence (s 15(1)-(2)); strict liability (s 15(3)). Representing oneself as an authorised identifier when not authorised attracts a maximum 5 penalty units (s 15(4)).
Failure to comply with an approved code of practice about implanting microchips: maximum 10 penalty units; strict liability (s 16(3)-(4)).
Failure by shelters or pounds to scan animals entering the facility within three days: maximum 10 penalty units; strict liability (s 17(1)-(2)).
Operating a domestic animals registry service when not licensed under a corresponding law, or while prohibited: maximum 20 penalty units; strict liability (s 18(1)-(2)).
Failure by registry service operators to provide information to the registrar within seven working days when requested: maximum 5 penalty units; strict liability (s 20(1)-(2)).
Failure by a licensed operator to notify the registrar within three working days of suspension, cancellation or discontinuation of licensure: maximum 5 penalty units; strict liability (s 21(2)-(3)).
Failure to comply with a code of practice about operation of a domestic animals registry service: maximum 20 penalty units; strict liability (s 22(3)-(4)).
Keeping 4 or more cats on one residential premises without a multiple cat licence: maximum 20 penalty units; strict liability (s 9A(1)-(2)).

Registrar powers and administrative enforcement. The registrar has powers to prohibit non-compliant registry operators (s 19), to authorise and withdraw authorisations of identifiers (s 13; s 14), and to receive and act on information such as allocation lists, service discontinuations and responses to information requests (s 12; s 20; s 21). The registrar may suspend a benefit paid for by a credit card payment that is later dishonoured until the amount is paid (s 24(1)(b)). The registrar may also waive payment of the charge imposed on the Territory in cases of hardship under Ministerial guidelines (s 24(2)-(4)). Many enforcement mechanisms are administrative (suspension, prohibition, withdrawal) rather than purely criminal.

Strict liability and prosecutorial burden. Several offences are declared strict liability offences in the text, which reduces prosecutorial burden by removing the need to prove intention or recklessness. However, the Criminal Code’s provisions and other defences remain relevant where not displaced. The Regulation itself supplies a limited statutory defence in one place: a supplier of microchips can defend a failure-to-provide information charge by proving they reasonably believed someone else had or would provide the information (s 12(3)).

Parliamentary oversight of standards. Approved codes of practice and guidelines are disallowable or notifiable instruments (s 16(2); s 22(2); s 10(2); s 24(5)), so parliamentarians have a statutory path to scrutinise and potentially disallow standards that affect implantation procedures, registry operations and hardship waivers.

Review and appeal. Many administrative decisions are prescribed as reviewable in schedule 1 (s 23). The schedule lists the statutory section under which the decision is made, the decision itself and the entity entitled to seek review (schedule 1 columns 1-4). This preserves administrative and tribunal review routes for affected persons (s 23; s 23A).

Cross-jurisdictional licensing and corresponding laws. The Regulation requires domestic animals registry service operators in the ACT to be licensed under a corresponding law (dictionary definition includes NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 and Regulation 2008, Victoria’s Domestic Animals Act 1994 and Regulations 2005) or otherwise risk offence and prohibition (s 18(1); dictionary definition of corresponding law). This creates a regulatory interaction with NSW and Victoria regimes for registry operator licensing, such that operators recognised under those other regimes can operate in the ACT if compliant.

Criminal Code and Legislation Act. The Regulation expressly imports application of the Criminal Code chapter on general criminal responsibility to offences against the Regulation (s 4). Penalty units and their currency are to be interpreted with reference to the Legislation Act, s 133; the republication preface states the penalty unit values in force at the republication date. Notes and dictionary references point readers back to definitions and provisions in the Legislation Act and the Domestic Animals Act 2000 for terms and interpretation (s 2; dictionary notes).

Domestic Animals Act 2000. The Regulation operates as subordinate legislation to the Domestic Animals Act 2000. It prescribes the particulars for registration, the conditions for licences and control orders referenced in the Act, and the procedural machinery for decisions that the Act empowers. Many reviewable decisions listed in the Regulation’s schedule directly reference sections of the Act (schedule 1 column 2 lists the Act provisions, column 3 the decisions and column 4 the entities with review rights). The Regulation thus fills in Act-level delegations, setting thresholds, data fields and procedural rules that give effect to the Act’s broad powers.

Administrative law and tribunal review. The Regulation lists numerous reviewable decisions and prescribes entities entitled to seek review (s 23; s 23A; schedule 1). Those prescribed review rights will interact with ACT administrative law and tribunal processes, including the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal where relevant Act provisions and the tribunal’s enabling Act apply. The legislation history records amendments relating to tribunal legislation (endnotes).

Parliamentary oversight of disallowable instruments. Codes of practice and guidelines the Minister or registrar approves under this Regulation are disallowable or notifiable instruments (s 16(2); s 22(2); s 10(2); s 24(5)). That status invokes the Legislation Act procedures for scrutiny and potential disallowance by the Legislative Assembly, creating an interaction between regulatory standards and parliamentary oversight.

Veterinary Practice Act and professional regulation. Implantation may only be carried out by veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers (s 15). The Veterinary Practice Act is referenced in the legislation history and amendment history (endnotes indicate amendments were made in connection with the Veterinary Practice Act 2018). That Act and the professional regulation of veterinary practitioners will govern how veterinary practitioners operate within the charging, authorisation and disciplinary context created by this Regulation.

Data protection and privacy law. The Regulation requires transfer of personal and animal data (owner names, addresses, contact numbers, microchip allocation lists) to registry operators and the registrar (s 4A; s 12(1); s 5). Those transfers will interact with applicable privacy legislation and policies governing the handling, storage and disclosure of personal information. The Regulation does not itself set privacy protections, so operators and the registrar must ensure compliance with relevant ACT and Commonwealth privacy laws when implementing these data flows.

Correspondence with NSW and Victorian instruments. Because corresponding laws in NSW and Victoria are explicitly recognised (dictionary), the Regulation permits interoperability of registry operators and may require alignment of technical and operational standards with those external instruments. Operators must take account of differing formats, codes of practice and licensing modalities across jurisdictions when providing services to the ACT.

The Regulation has undergone multiple amendments since its original 2001 making; the endnotes set out a detailed amendment chronology. Key mechanical changes and their dates are recorded in the legislation history and amendment history sections in the republished text. Those endnotes show how new parts, sections and definitions have been inserted over time and which Acts effected those changes.

Principal amendment phases and their effects. The Regulation was first notified 12 June 2001 and largely commenced on 21 June 2001 (legislation history). Amendments since then have progressively added and revised substantive parts:

Mid-2000s reforms: The 2005 Cat Containment Amendment Act and related changes inserted Part 3 on cats and introduced identification and registration obligations for cats (A2005-57, see s 19 of that amending Act cited in the amendment history).
2008 rework: The SL2008-18 consolidation and amendments added Part 4 (implanting microchips) and substantial new operational provisions concerning registry services, microchip approvals, authorisation of identifiers, codes of practice, and offences related to registry operation (SL2008-18 s 13-16). The amendment history shows sections 10-22 were inserted or substituted at that time.
2017-2018 targeted changes: Amendments in 2017-2018 (A2017-44; A2017-46; A2018-11) introduced or refined dangerous dog licensing, racing greyhound regulation, and prescribed conditions for multiple-dog licences and dangerous dog licences (s 6A; s 6B; s 6C; s 6D; s 6E). These changes added detailed conditions concerning premises, fencing, gates, leashing and muzzling requirements, and training obligations.
2018-2019 animal welfare workstreams: The Veterinary Practice Act 2018 and the Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2019 prompted amendments to reflect changes in the regulation of veterinary practice and animal welfare administrative arrangements (amendment history lists A2018-32 and A2019-35).
2021-2022 and recent modernisation: The 2021 and 2022 Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Acts updated definitions, registration particulars, and added provisions covering greyhound registration and cat registration particulars (A2021-11; A2022-6). The 2022 amendments added sections like 4A and 9AA, 9AB and 9AC, which expand the detail required in registration applications and certificates.
2025 technical and procedural amendments: Better Regulation Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (A2025-13) and Statute Law Amendment Act 2025 (A2025-29) made more recent changes, including to s 10 (approval of microchips), s 16 and s 22 on codes of practice, and s 24 on dishonoured credit card transactions. The amendment history records commencement dates for these items (see endnotes listing A2025-13 commencement 9 June 2025 and A2025-29 commencement 16 December 2025).

Editorial and republication processes. The republication includes editorial amendments authorised by the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office may make non-substantive editorial changes when republishing). The endnotes note which amendments are editorial and which are substantive; editorial changes do not alter the effect of the law but take effect as if enacted on the republication date (Legislation Act, s 115 and s 117 referred to in the preface).

Statutory instruments and disallowable instruments. The Regulation has used disallowable instruments for codes of practice and guidelines introduced over time. The amendment history shows sections making these codes and guidelines disallowable instruments were inserted by various Acts (for example SL2008-18 s 13 introduced the code of practice framework; later amendments adjusted their scope and status).

Schedule of reviewable decisions updates. Schedule 1 has been revised across several amendments to add or remove reviewable decisions or to rename the Act provisions referenced. The amendment history indicates that schedule items were updated in numerous years to align with Act changes and tribunal arrangements (see endnotes detailing multiple amendments and renumberings).

Net effect. The amendment history shows a pattern of the Regulation evolving from simpler registration rules to a more elaborate regulatory architecture covering microchip standards, registry operations, operator oversight, and prescriptive licence and control-order conditions. The reform path reflects policy priorities: animal identification, traceability, public safety for dangerous animals, animal welfare practices, and administrative oversight of registry infrastructure.

The republished Regulation as supplied does not cite any judicial decisions or case law. The text explicitly lists reviewable decisions (s 23; schedule 1) that create administrative review rights, but it does not reference litigation outcomes or judicial interpretations. The legislation history and amendment history in the endnotes record statutes and subordinate instruments that amended the Regulation; they do not record tribunal or court decisions.

What can be inferred from the text about potential litigation pathways. The Regulation prescribes many administrative decisions as reviewable under the Act (s 23; schedule 1). That gives affected persons formal avenues to seek merits review or judicial review of a registrar’s decisions, for example in matters such as refusal to register an animal, cancellation of registrations or licences, refusal to issue licences, imposition of conditions, destruction orders, control orders and seizure or non-return of animals (see schedule 1 items 1-54). These reviewable decision entries indicate common dispute points and where litigation or tribunal review would likely occur, namely:

Registration refusals and cancellations for dogs and cats (schedule 1 items 1, 2, 3, 33, 34, 35).
Licence refusals, conditions and cancellations for multiple animal licences, dangerous dog licences, breeding licences and special licences (schedule 1 items 4-11, 26-31, 36-37).
Orders to destroy or seize animals, sale of seized animals and refusal to return animals (schedule 1 items 17-25, 38, 51).
Decisions about permits and permits with conditions, including permits to take dogs into prohibited areas (schedule 1 items 15-16).
Decisions around assistance animal trainer and assessor registrations, suspensions and cancellations (schedule 1 items 39-47).

No cases named. The Regulation itself contains no express jurisprudential citations. For legal practitioners and litigators, the schedule is a map of likely administrative dispute loci; any litigation history would need to be discovered in ACT tribunal and court records, not in this Regulation text.

Practical litigation considerations. Because many offences are strict liability and several administrative decisions are reviewable, a typical legal approach would involve assessing the administrative record for procedural fairness, the statutory basis for conditions and orders, compliance with codes of practice, and whether the registrar properly exercised discretion. The Regulation establishes technical compliance obligations (data formats, timeframes, electronic transmission) that may feature in disputes about whether registrars’ decisions were reasonable or whether obligations were breached.

Strict liability traps. Numerous provisions declare the offence a strict liability offence (for example s 11(2); s 15(3); s 16(4); s 17(2); s 18(2); s 20(2); s 21(3); s 22(4); s 9A(2)). Strict liability reduces the prosecution’s burden on mens rea. Keepers, operators and suppliers cannot rely on ignorance of the law as a defence in those contexts. Where the Regulation provides a limited statutory defence (s 12(3)) the availability is narrow and fact-dependent.

Tight and short timeframes. Several compliance windows are short and specified in working days or calendar days:

Shelters and pounds must scan animals within three days of entry (s 17(1)).
Registry operators must provide information within seven working days after a registrar’s request (s 20(1)).
Operators must notify the registrar in writing of suspension, cancellation or discontinuation within three working days (s 21(2)).
Microchip vendors must provide allocation lists and unique identification numbers in an electronic format suitable for registry usage; the Regulation does not specify a longer grace period (s 12(1)-(2)). Failure to meet these timeframes can attract penalties.

Data format specificity. The unique identification number must be provided in a 15-character numeric or a 10-character hexadecimal format and be linked to manufacturer and distribution batch numbers (s 12(1)(b)-(c)). Operators and suppliers who use different numbering systems or legacy formats will need to ensure conversion or mapping processes. The Regulation’s specification leaves little room for ad hoc formats.

Information-flow dependencies and single-point failures. The requirement that microchip sellers provide allocation lists and unique numbers to each operator of a domestic animals registry service (s 12(1)) creates a dependency: if the supplier fails to report or reports incorrectly, the linkage between microchip and owner may be broken. Although s 12(3) provides a defence if the supplier reasonably believed someone else would provide the information, that defence can be risky and may not protect operators or animal owners whose animals are misidentified.

Registry entry and continuity risks. To operate a domestic animals registry service in the ACT, an operator must be licensed under a corresponding law or must not be prohibited by the registrar (s 18(1)). Operators licensed in other jurisdictions must be aware of ACT-specific codes of practice and registrar notices that could lead to prohibition (s 19). The obligation to notify cessations within three working days (s 21(2)) is operationally significant; failure to notify exposes the operator to penalty and may leave registrants without a functioning registry, undermining traceability.

Limits on who may implant microchips. Only veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers may implant identifying microchips (s 15(1)). Persons who are comfortable performing implantation for friends or at low cost risk an offence. Additionally, representing oneself as an authorised identifier when one is not authorised is an offence (s 15(4)).

Multiple-cat threshold and exemptions. A person who keeps four or more cats on one residential premises commits an offence unless holding a multiple cat licence (s 9A(1)). Exemptions exist but are narrow: cats under 84 days, cats kept for less than 28 days, persons resident in the ACT for less than 28 days, assistance animals, or cats kept on leased land covering an animal care facility (s 9A(3)). Family and boarding arrangements that temporarily exceed the threshold may still generate liability if the exemptions do not apply.

Ambiguity in “recognisable breed” and other descriptive fields. The Regulation requires recording “if the dog is a recognisable breed,the breed” and similar for cats (s 4A(e); s 9AA(e); s 6(c); s 9AC(c)). The term “recognisable” is not defined in the Regulation, which can create ambiguity where mixed breeds are involved and may produce disputes about completeness or accuracy of registration entries.

Ministerial and registrar discretion. The Minister may approve microchips and codes of practice (s 10; s 16(1); s 22(1)) and issue hardship guidelines for waiving dishonour charges (s 24(3)-(4)). The registrar has broad powers to prohibit operators, withdraw authorisations and require information (s 13; s 14; s 19-21). Those discretions create implementation uncertainty for regulated parties and will depend on how the Minister and registrar exercise them.

Inter-jurisdictional operator issues. Operators with licences in NSW or Victoria must ensure they meet ACT-specific codes and are not prohibited under registrar notices (s 18-19). Cross-border registry operation requires technical and procedural harmonisation; failure to do so can produce liability when operating in the ACT.

Codes of practice are disallowable instruments. Codes that set practical standards for implantation and registry operation are disallowable (s 16(2); s 22(2)). While this gives a parliamentary oversight mechanism, it also means regulated entities must monitor changes, and those changes can be disallowed or varied, affecting operational continuity.

This is a practical checklist of compliance tasks mapped to the relevant provisions. Each item cites the section(s) that create the duty.

Registration and identification

Microchip and registration timing: Ensure dogs aged 12 weeks or older, dogs sold, dangerous dogs and cats aged 12 weeks or older or sold are implanted with an identifying microchip and registered (s 7(1); s 8(1); s 9(1)). Check for the veterinary exemption where microchipping would be a serious health risk and is certified in writing before 12 weeks or first sale (s 7(4); s 8(2)).
Data completeness: When applying to register a dog or cat, include all prescribed data: applicant name, contact details, past convictions within ten years for animal welfare/Act offences, alternate premises if applicable, animal name, breed if recognisable, colour, microchip unique identification number, assistance/dangerous/racing status and de-sexing statement where applicable (s 4A; s 9AA).
Keep records current: Update registration and microchip details whenever ownership changes, the animal dies, or registration is renewed so the register accurately reflects status (s 5(a)-(e); s 9AB(a)-(e)).

Microchip handling and implantation

Approved microchips: Use only microchips approved by the Minister where an approval exists; monitor published approvals (s 10(1)-(2)).
Who can implant: Ensure only veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers implant microchips (s 15(1)). If offering identifier services, apply to the registrar for authorisation and maintain competency and compliance (s 13).
Codes of practice: Comply with any approved code of practice on implantation (s 16(1)-(3)). Monitor for changes, as these are disallowable instruments (s 16(2)).

Data flows and registry operation

Microchip supplier obligations: If supplying microchips to veterinary practitioners or authorised identifiers, provide each ACT domestic animals registry operator with the recipient’s name and address, the unique identification number in the specified formats (15-character numeric or 10-character hexadecimal), and an allocation list linking numbers to the recipient (s 12(1)(a)-(c); s 12(2)). Supply data electronically in a format ready for registry ingestion (s 12(2)). Maintain records linking vendor batches and manufacturer details to microchip numbers.
Registry operator licensing and codes: If operating a domestic animals registry service in the ACT, confirm a corresponding-law licence applies or seek ACT authorisation. Operate in accordance with any adopted ACT code of practice (s 18(1); s 22(3)). Maintain processes to respond to registrar information requests within seven working days (s 20(1)) and to notify the registrar of suspension, cancellation or discontinuation of licensure within three working days (s 21(2)).
Prohibition risk: Put in place governance and documentation demonstrating compliance with a code of practice to reduce the risk of registrar prohibition under s 19.

Shelters and pounds

Scanning: Implement intake procedures that ensure every dog or cat is scanned for an identifying microchip within three days of entry (s 17(1)). Record scan results and, where microchips are found, follow registration data reconciliation processes.

Licences, control orders and conditions

Premises and fencing: If holding or applying for multiple-dog or dangerous-dog licences, review premises against the detailed fencing and gate conditions set out in s 6A and s 6B. Undertake any required repairs promptly and keep evidence.
Training requirements: Track and evidence completion of required behavioural or socialisation training for keepers, carers and specific dogs where licence conditions state training is required (s 6A(j); s 6B(g); s 6D(1)(i)).
Home impoundment and control orders: If a keeper is subject to home-impoundment directions or a control order, implement the specified conditions (s 6D; s 6E) and document compliance for review purposes.

Payments and hardship

Credit card transactions: If paying fees by credit or debit card, ensure sufficient funds and reconcile payments promptly. If a transaction is dishonoured, be prepared to reimburse the Territory for the charge imposed and the amount paid; request a hardship waiver if grounds exist, and be aware the registrar must follow Ministerial guidelines in doing so (s 24(1)-(4)). Monitoring and reconciliation can avoid registration suspension under s 24(1)(b).

Administrative and review preparedness

Reviewable decisions listing: Use schedule 1 as a checklist of decisions that are reviewable (s 23). Where a decision is adverse, note the entity prescribed for review and the timeline for initiating review under the Act and tribunal rules.
Record retention: Maintain contemporaneous records of microchip implantation, allocation lists, registration applications and licences, fence and gate repairs, training certificates and correspondence with the registrar or operators. These records will be decisive in any review or enforcement action.

Operational governance and contracts

Contracts with registry operators and vendors: Ensure provider contracts require required data formats, timely reporting, security and continuity-of-service arrangements. Include obligations for notification of licence changes and continuity plans to address the s 21 notification requirement.
Privacy compliance: Implement privacy impact assessments and secure data-handling practices for transfers of owner and animal data under s 4A; s 12; s 5. While the Regulation requires data transfers, privacy laws govern their lawful handling and disclosure.

Practical liberties and exceptions

Exemptions: Familiarise yourself with statutory exemptions: veterinary certificates excusing microchipping on health grounds (s 7(4); s 8(2)), multiple-cat exceptions for temporary circumstances (s 9A(3)), and the Defence in s 12(3) for suppliers who reasonably believed someone else would provide required microchip allocation information.
Inter-jurisdictional operation: Registry operators licensed in NSW or Victoria should document compliance with ACT codes of practice and be ready to demonstrate equivalence to avoid registrar prohibition (s 18-19).

By mapping operations to the specific sections cited above, registrars, operators, vendors, keepers and veterinary professionals can build compliance checklists, IT requirements and standard operating procedures tailored to the Regulation’s precise duties and timelines.

Domestic Animals Regulation 2001

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Domestic Animals Regulation 2001

Source text: opening excerpt

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply