Your pet is microchipped. You did the right thing: you had it done at the vet, paid the registration fee, and filed the paperwork. Job done.
Except for a significant number of pet owners across NSW, the job is not actually done. The microchip is in. The data is not current.
Thousands of lost pets are scanned each year and successfully identified, only for the contact details on file to be an old phone number, a previous address, or an email account no longer in use. The microchip does its job. The registry record does not.
This article explains how the NSW microchip and registration system works, the most common reasons records become outdated, and the exact steps to update your details if anything has changed.
How the NSW Pet Registry System Works
In NSW, companion animal microchipping and registration is administered through the NSW Pet Registry, run by the Office of Local Government. When your pet is microchipped, the chip’s unique number is recorded on this registry alongside your contact details.
When a lost pet is scanned at a vet clinic, council pound, or RSPCA facility, the chip number is run through the registry database. The contact details on file are what determine whether the pet gets home.
The microchip itself is a passive device: a small glass-encased transponder roughly the size of a grain of rice, typically implanted between the shoulder blades. It does not track location. It does not emit a signal. It simply stores a unique identification number that is readable by a scanner. All the useful information, including your name, phone number, address, and your pet’s description, lives on the registry. The chip is only as useful as the record it points to.
The Most Common Reasons Records Become Outdated
Moving house is the most frequent cause of an outdated record. Renters in particular tend to move more often, and updating pet registry details is rarely front of mind during a move. In the Illawarra, the growth of new estates in Horsley, Shell Cove, and surrounding suburbs has brought a significant wave of residents, many of whom moved from elsewhere in NSW with pets whose records still show a previous address.
Changing phone numbers is the second most common issue. A pet registered in 2019 with a contact number that was later cancelled or changed is effectively unreachable if lost.
Change of ownership is a legal obligation, not just a recommendation. If you rehomed a pet, purchased one privately, or took in a rescue animal, the registry record should reflect you as the current owner. A pet transferred without updating the registry legally still belongs to the previous owner on paper, which creates complications if the animal is impounded.
Surname changes following marriage, divorce, or other circumstances can also leave records inaccurate.
Email address changes that mean any attempted contact bounces without reaching anyone.
How to Check and Update Your Details on the NSW Pet Registry
The NSW Pet Registry is accessible at www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au. You will need your pet’s microchip number to look up their record. This can be found on:
- Your pet’s vaccination or vet records
- The paperwork you received when the microchip was implanted
- By having your pet scanned at a vet clinic: we can do this at any standard appointment
To update your details:
- Go to www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au
- Select “Update my details” or log into your existing account
- Search for your pet using the microchip number
- Review the current record and check your phone number, address, and email
- Update any fields that are no longer current
- Save and confirm
The process takes approximately five minutes and there is no fee to update contact details.
If you have moved between council areas, your pet’s registration may also need to be transferred to your new local council. Registration fees are a council function; the Pet Registry is a state function. Both need to be current.
What If I Do Not Know My Pet's Microchip Number?
This is more common than you would expect. If you do not have paperwork showing the microchip number:
- Check with the vet who implanted the chip, as it will be in your pet’s clinical record
- Bring your pet in to be scanned: a handheld scanner reads the chip in seconds and gives us the number, which you can then use to access the registry record
- Check any pet insurance paperwork, adoption paperwork, or council registration notices that may have recorded it
We can scan your pet and give you the number at any appointment, or as a quick drop-in if you are local to Dapto.
Microchipping Requirements in NSW
Under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998, all dogs and cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age, or before sale or transfer if older. Failure to microchip is a fineable offence.
If your pet is not yet microchipped, or you have taken in an animal whose chip status is unknown, this is something we can address at a standard consult or at a dedicated microchipping appointment. We can also check whether an existing chip is correctly positioned and readable, as chips can occasionally migrate from the original implant site over time.
Microchipping is a quick procedure. The chip is implanted via needle in a matter of seconds with no anaesthetic required for most pets. The momentary discomfort is comparable to a standard vaccination.
If Your Pet Goes Missing
If your pet is lost, acting quickly makes a significant difference. Beyond the Pet Registry:
- Contact your local council’s animal management team immediately. Impounded animals have a holding period before they are rehomed.
- Report the missing pet to the NSW Pet Registry so a flag is placed on the record
- Contact local vet clinics, including ours, with a description and photo. Found animals are frequently brought directly to vet clinics.
- Post in local Facebook community groups with a clear photo. These networks move information faster than almost any other channel in the Illawarra.
- Check the Lost Pets Register on the NSW Pet Registry site, where found animals are also listed
Five Minutes Now Could Bring Your Pet Home Later
Updating your details on the NSW Pet Registry takes less time than this article took to read. If you have moved, changed your number, or simply cannot remember the last time you checked your record, do it today.
If you are unsure of your pet’s chip number or need a pet microchipped, our Dapto vet team can help. For anything related to lost pets or identification, get in touch with us directly.
For authoritative information on the NSW registry and reuniting lost pets, the NSW Pet Registry is the right place to bookmark now, before you ever need it in a stressful moment.
Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital
Address: 38 Baan Baan St, Dapto NSW 2530
Independently owned since 2009.
Fear Free Accredited • Gold Level Cat Friendly Clinic.
