Dog and Cat Management Bill passed

The following article is an archived news release. For the latest information on South Australia's new dog and cat laws, click here. Yesterday the Dog and Cat Management Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament.

The main changes to the Act:

Microchipping – introducing the requirement for all dogs and cats over a certain age to be microchipped. Desexing - introducing the requirement for all new generations of dogs and cats to be desexed Breeders – introducing a requirement for anyone who breeds dogs and cats for sale to register as a breeder. Sellers – introducing a requirement for certain information to be provided to the buyer. Council Powers – councils to have greater powers to administer and enforce the Act including increases in some expiations and penalties. Assistance Dogs – changes to who can accredit animals.

So what happens next?

Now the Bill has passed work on the regulations can commence.

The Regulations will include all the information about when these provisions need to be undertaken, the age at which dogs and cats will need to be microchipped and desexed and more details about exemptions etc.

The Regulations will go out for public consultation later this year.

There will also be a phase in period for the new provisions.