Dog and Cat Registration

DACO – Dogs and Cats Online is a central database introduced in 2018 to capture dog and cat registration.

The centralised system is used for tracking important details about dogs and cats and can help ensure better accountability and ensures your pet can be reunited if they get lost.

The Dog and Cat Board has some great step-by-step guides to help you register your pet here.

When registering your new dog and cat, please ensure that you have with you:

• An email address (for online access)
• Any concession cards (your card number will be automatically validated upon entry)
• Microchip number (15 digits)
• Desexing Certificate

Register your cat

It is compulsory for all cats to be:

• Microchipped by three months of age
• Desexed by six months of age, if they are born after 1 July 2018 (exemptions may apply).

City of Mount Gambier does not apply a fee for registering a cat.

Register your dog

It is compulsory for all dogs to be:

• Microchipped by three months of age,
• Desexed by six months of age, if they are born after 1st July 2018 (exemptions may apply), and
• Registered after three months of age within 14 days of taking ownership.

If you are unable to pay electronically, you can visit our office, Civic Centre, 10 Watson Terrace, Mount Gambier, where a Customer Support Officer can assist you.

Change of owner or pet details
If any of the below occur, you are required to update Dogs and Cats Online as soon as practicable or call Council on 8721 2555.

• If your dog or cat will be kept at different premises,
• Your dog or cat passes away,
• Your dog or cat has been missing for more than 72 hours,
• The ownership of the dog or cat is transferred to another person. New owners must be provided with the transfer code and dog’s registration number. Ensure that the dog is wearing a registration tag at all times to assist in immediate identification and return.

Click here to read more from the Dog and Cat Board about these reforms.

Registration categories

All dogs fall under one of these two categories:

• Standard dog: A dog that is both desexed and microchipped.
• Non-standard dog: all other dogs, even if they are exempt from desexing or microchipping requirements such as dogs belonging to registered breeders and working livestock dogs.
  A copy of desexing papers must be uploaded into DACO for all Standard Dog registrations.

What is the registration renewal process?
In July each year you will receive your pet registration renewal via your preferred method of delivery, either email, post or SMS with information on how to pay and update your details on the DACO online system. Dog registrations must be renewed by 31 August each year. A late fee will be applied if not paid by the due date and an expiation fee may also apply.

For current fees, please refer to the City of Mount Gambier fees and charges schedule.
Please note: a concession of 50% applies to eligible benefits cardholders. For concession payments, proof of concession entitlement must be provided each year.

If you have not received your registration renewal notice please contact Council or log into Dogs and Cats Online to download your current renewal notice.
Payment can be made online via the DACO website or phone Council. If you are unable to pay electronically you can pay in person at the Council office, Civic Centre, 10 Watson Terrace Mount Gambier
Remember: dogs must be re-registered by the 31 August each year to avoid late fee that will be applied if not paid by the due date.

Your renewal will contain your animal's lifetime registration tag. Registration discs are no longer issued upon renewal. If the registration tag for your pet becomes misplaced, you can apply for a replacement registration disc at your cost, or you can engrave the DACO number directly onto a dog tag of your choice.