Breeder responsibilities

The breeding essentials below are a starting point to help you meet legal requirements for breeders in NSW.

• Only sell or give cats and dogs to people over 18.
• Only sell or give away puppies and kittens after they’re 8 weeks old.
• It is the breeder’s responsibility to microchip cats and dogs in NSW. You must do this before you sell or give the pets away, or by the time they’re 12 weeks old.
• Puppies and kittens must be vaccinated against common infectious diseases when they’re 6 to 8 weeks old. Follow best-practice advice from your vet.
• You must not sell or give away cats or dogs suspected of being sick, injured, or diseased.
• Breeders must be listed as the first owner of a litter, regardless of whether payment has been made in full or a deposit has been paid for a pet.
• Breeders must pay the registration fee for any pets still in their name from 12 weeks of age.
• When an animal is being transferred interstate or overseas, the new owner is responsible for following the laws and regulations of the home state where the animal will be kept.  
• If a pet is kept in NSW and will be transferred after it turns 12 weeks of age, the breeder must pay the registration fee. 

Laws that breeders must follow

Anyone involved in breeding cats and dogs must understand and follow the obligations in the relevant legislation and regulations.

Read the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the Companion Animals Regulation 2018 for:

• detailed information about the responsibilities of owners and breeders
• identification and registration requirements for cats and dogs.

On 21 November 2024, new laws came into effect to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across the state by implementing a range of measures to ban puppy farming. 

Cat and dog breeders must follow laws protecting animal welfare that the NSW Department of Primary Industries administers, including the below:

• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 2012
• Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding dogs and cats

Advertising pets in NSW

In NSW, when you advertise that you are selling or giving away kittens, cats, puppies or dogs, you must include an identification number.

All advertisements must include the pets’ microchip number and:

• Dog breeders must include their breeder identification number (BIN) with active dog breeder eligibility status.
• Cat breeders must include either their recognised breeder number, or breeder identification number (BIN).
• Rehoming organisations must use their rehoming organisation number.

A breeder identification number is issued free of charge on the NSW Pet Registry. 

Keep your details up to date

Cat and dog breeders in NSW are required by law to keep their personal details and information about animals up to date in the NSW Pet Registry.

Log into or create an account on the NSW Pet Registry to update your details, update your pet's location and instantly transfer ownership. 

Owners and breeders should update their contact details on the NSW Pet Registry where possible. If you cannot access the online service, you can notify council using the C3C Change of details form within 14 days of a change.