Animal Management

All dogs must be registered by 3 months of age or within two weeks of ownership and re-registered (renewed) each financial year.

A renewal notice will be sent to the registered dog owner in July via their nominated method (email, sms or post) and is payable by 31 August each year. When you are renewing your dog’s registration it is a timely reminder to make sure all your contact and dog details are up to date.

To register, renew or to update yours or your dog's details visit Dogs and Cats Online.

If you are unsure of the process the following short video is very easy to understand and shows you how easily it is to renew your dog online:

How to register your dog online [YouTube]

What if I don’t have access to a computer to register or renew my dog's registration?

Dog owners that do not have access to a computer can come into the Council Administration Office, 44 O'Loughlin Tce, Ceduna, and staff will be able to assist in registering, renewing and updating your dogs’ information.

Registration discs

Each Dog will be issued with a permanent registration number when first registered on Dogs and Cats Online. A grey registration disc, displaying the permanent registration number, will be posted out to you 15 days following payment.  This number will remain with the dog for life, even if you or your dog moves to another Council area or there is a transfer of ownership.

Council will no longer be issuing annual discs.  If your dog’s registration disc has been lost or damaged, or you do not wish to use the supplied plastic disc, you can purchase your own metal disc, badge or tag and have it engraved with your dog’s registration number.  It is also recommended to include your contact name and number on the disc.  If you lose your grey registration disc you can order a replacement disc through Dogs and Cats Online for a fee.

Registration fees and concessions

Each year Council set the dog registration fees which are outlined in Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule.

Note: Concession card holders are required to supply a valid concession card to be eligible to receive a discount on all dog and cat registrations.

Council has a By-Law that limits the number of dogs that can be kept on any premises to control and manage dogs in the Council area – refer to our Dogs & Cats By-Law.

If you wish to have more than two dogs at the same address you must seek Council's approval. 
The following points must be adhered to before approval can be given:

• All dogs must be registered, microchipped and desexed (some exemptions apply) as required under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, prior to a permit being issued.
• The premises must be suitable for housing the dogs. Consideration must be given to the size of the yard and there must be adequate fencing to keep the dogs contained.
• All applications may be subject to an assessment process including history of dog ownership and one of Council’s Officers may consult with your immediate neighbours.
• The property where the dogs are to be housed will be subject to an inspection by Council Authorised Officer by appointment.
• Permit fee must be paid prior to permit application being assessed.

Upon approval a permit will be issued which will be applicable for the life of the dogs or until you change address.  If you change address please let Council know by - council@ceduna.sa.gov.au or phone 8625 3407.

Desexing

Research indicates that’s desexing reduces territorial and aggressive behaviour, reduces the risk of some cancers and stops unwanted litters.

In South Australia. If you are an owner of a dog born after the 1 July 2018 you must have your dog desexed by a registered veterinary surgeon:

• Before it is 6 months of age; or
• Within 28 days after you take ownership of the dog; or
• If you as the owner of the dog is granted an extension of time, before the day specified in the exemption.
• Veterinarians may exempt the requirement to desex your dog if the procedure poses an undue risk to the health of the dog or it will adversely affect the dogs growth, development or wellbeing.
• Dogs born prior to 1 July 2018
• Dogs owned by a registered breeder through Dogs and Cats Online
• Dogs defined as a “working livestock” as per the act
• Dogs owned by a member of Dogs SA
• Greyhounds that are currently registered as racing greyhounds with Greyhound Racing SA (retired greyhounds are not exempt)

Microchipping

In South Australia all dogs (and cats) must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or at the point of sale (whichever occurs first) or within 28 days of ownership with the details entered onto Dogs and Cats Online.

Microchipped dogs carry a permanent identification and therefore if they go missing, they can be reunited with their families a lot sooner.

More information about microchipping your dog can be found here.

Lost a Dog?

If your dog is missing from its yard or from where he/she was being left, we recommend that you take a drive around the neighbourhood and see if you can locate your dog.

If however, you are unable to find your dog, please contact the Council office on 8625 3407 and leave a detailed description of your dog and a Council Officer will keep an eye out and if found will be in contact with you.

If your dog has no ID of any kind (no collar/microchip/tag) and our Council Officers are unable to determine who the owner of the dog is, these dogs will be listed on the Council Facebook page.

If your dog is showing on the Council Facebook page you need to contact the Council office with your ownership and return enquiries.

It is important that if you have lost your dog to contact Council as soon as possible as your dog may already be waiting to be reunited, or our Council Officers may know where it is being held.

Be careful with social media users claiming they have your dog.

To make sure that your dog can be reunited as soon as possible, you should ensure that your dog is registered each year, always wears a collar and registration tag, and is microchipped with your current details recorded on DogandCatsOnline.

Found a Dog?

State Government legislation states that a dog must be on a leash that does not exceed two metres in length whilst on public roads, footpaths, and in all public places, except for parks unless otherwise specified by Council by-laws. Accredited guide, hearing and disability dogs are excepted from all restrictions.

View the map which shows the Leashed & Unleased areas for Ceduna, Thevenard, Denial Bay and Smoky Bay.

After a dog attack, seek medical or veterinary treatment as a priority.

When safe to do so, you must report the attack to Council. You can report a dog attack or an aggressive dog by phoning 86253407, 24 hours a day.

Report the incident ASAP

Like all serious incidents, time is a critical factor in dealing with dog attacks. This is especially important if the offending dog is wandering at large and still poses a risk to the public or other animals. To help council investigators, please try to gather the following information before contacting us:

• the date, time and exact location of the attack. If you’re not sure, use your GPS equipped smart phone to check on a map
• a description of the offending dog - registration disc, name tag, breed, colour, sex, markings, collar size and colour
• a description of the owner - name, address, contact phone number, male or female, age, hair colour, clothing
• if a car was involved and the offender drove away with the dog - car registration number, make, model, colour
• a description and photographs of any injuries and location on your body or your pet's body.

You should also keep copies of any medical certificates, vet or doctor bills as evidence.

Who is responsible?

You are responsible for your dog’s actions. It is an offense for a dog to attack, harass or chase a person, another animal or a bird owned by a person.

What happens when a dog is reported?

• Authorised Council investigators may take a statement or affidavit from you
• Photos may be taken of any injuries to yourself, or your animals or birds.
• The dog's owner may be contacted to get their side of the incident.
• Investigators could seek witness statements and other evidence
• Investigators assess the circumstances and evidence and make a decision for action
• Council will then issue legal notices as required, and;
• Inform the parties of the outcome.

Depending on the severity of the attack, councils can:

• issue a warning
• impose an on the spot fine
• take direct court action (in more serious cases)
• impose a control order (Nuisance, Dangerous Dog, Menacing Dog, or Destruction Order)

If you have any questions contact us on 86253407.

Preventing dog bites

Dogs bite for many reasons. The most common reasons are fear, pain or confusion when mixing with people and other dogs. Ignoring signs of aggression can result in serious injury to you, a member of your family or others.  You can discourage biting by:

• socialising your dog from an early age so that it learns how to mix with other dogs and other people in public
• avoiding situations that may cause your dog to become nervous or anxious
• training your dog - obedience classes help you learn about your dog, its body language and how you can communicate with it
• desexing your dog. Research shows that, on average an entire dog is more aggressive. Note that desexing dog will be mandatory (with exemptions) from 1 July 2018.
• asking your vet for advice if your dog shows any signs of aggression towards people.

For more information on being a good dog owner, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board website

Dogs bark for a number of reasons. They can bark because of separation anxiety, boredom, changes to lifestyle, health problems, noise from neighbours and construction work in the neighbourhood.

If you are a neighbour experiencing problems with a barking dog, there are ways to resolve issues

Contact the Owner

Often, dog owners are unaware that their dog is barking. A simple visit to your neighbour to inform them of the situation can be an easy fix. Face-to-face visits are most effective, but if you are uncomfortable, you can leave a polite note in your neighbour's letter box.

Involve the Council

If you don't reach a resolution, we can assist in two steps.

First, we'll contact the dog owner and highlight the complaint received. We will work with the dog owner to ensure the dog's physical and mental welfare needs are being met.

Our Compliance Officers make suggestions for strategies that can reduce barking. Please allow time for the dog owner to make changes to their backyard, house or lifestyle.

If the barking persists after several weeks, please contact the Council again. We'll undertake a more formal investigation.

For more information about barking dogs visit here or the Dog and Cat Management Board has this factsheet on Barking Dogs [PDF] that may be useful.

Council currently do not charge a cat registration fee but your cat must be registered in Dogs and Cats Online.

A renewal notice will be sent to the registered cat owner in July via their nominated method (email, sms or post). The owner will need to renew the registration and update any details that have changed.

You will not be issued a tag for your cat.

If you move, you’ll need to update your address. If your cat dies, is missing for more than 72 hours, is given to a new owner, or is surrendered, update your cat’s record in Dogs and Cats Online or email the Council (council@ceduna.sa.gov.au) with the changes.

If your cat goes to a new home, their registration must be transferred to the new owner. You’ll need to advise Council of the new owner preferably with a phone number/email and address.

To learn more about being a responsible cat owner visit: https://dogandcatboard.com.au/cats/owning-a-cat

Mandatory desexing

All cats (and dogs) born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed by a registered veterinary surgeon before it is 6 months of age; or within 28 days after an owner takes possession of a kitten or puppy. Some exemptions can apply, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board website for details.

Desexed cat benefits:

• Generally live healthier and longer lives
• Reduces the risk of cancer and reproductive organ diseases
• No suffering and exhaustion from breeding
• Less likely to wander, fight, get injured or lost
• Territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors is reduced
• Reduced anti-social behaviours
• Generally, they become more affectionate and better human companions
• Female “heat” cycles are eliminated

Mandatory microchipping

All cats (and dogs) must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age (unless exempted by a vet—see the Dog and Cat Management Board for further details).

It is the cat’s owner’s responsibility to ensure their details and the microchip number is recorded and kept up to date in www.dogsandcatsonline.com.au. If you’re having trouble registering your cat online, please bring your cats microchipping and desexing paperwork, your ID and any concession cards into the office and we will happily register your cat for you on your behalf. If you do not have the ability to come into the office, please email the details to council@ceduna.sa.gov.au and provide your contact phone number and we will call you to register the cat over the phone.

Microchipped cats carry a permanent identification and therefore if they go missing, they can be reunited with their families a lot sooner.

It is illegal to seize or detain an identified cat (for example, a cat wearing a collar with the owner’s contact details or one that is microchipped). 

However, if there is an unidentified nuisance cat on your property, a cat trap may be used. If you trap a cat, it must be done humanely. Cats must not be kept in cages:

• in inclement weather conditions
• without access to water and shelter

A trapped cat must not be contained for longer than 12 hours.  Keeping a cat longer than this may constitute an act of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 1985.

NOTE - Council is currently unable to facilitate any Cat trap hire arrangements, please contact Council for further information. (07/08/2026)

Council has Cat traps for hire, please see the fees and charges schedule for bond, hire and delivery/collection fees.

If you would like to hire a cat trap, please complete the Application Form below.  Be sure to read the Conditions of Hire on the form before submitting your application.

For more information about animal cruelty and the law, visit the Legal Services Commission South Australia website.