Home Animal Identification BreachAnimal Identification Breach From 1 July 2019, new regulations have been put into place regarding the advertisement of animals online and offline. By law, any individual, breeder or organisation selling, adopting or giving away a dog, cat, puppy or kitten needs to use an official identification number in any advertisement of the animal. Approved identification numbers include: Microchip number Breeder identification number Rehoming Organisation Number (RON) This rule applies regardless of: The animal’s age What form the advertisement takes Where the advertisement is hosted Whether you are a professional rehoming organisation or breeder, or your cat or dog has had an accidental litter Whether the animal you are advertising has been born yet If a valid identification number is not used, you could be issued with an on-the-spot fine of $330 or face court, where a maximum penalty of $5,500 applies. These rules apply to all advertisements, including but not limited to, social media posts and listings, website advertisements and listings, community notice boards, posters, flyers and newspapers. If you see an animal advertised without an identification number, we suggest the following: Contact the seller to see if a typo or unintentional mistake was made. Use the Pet Registry search function to determine the validity of the number. Report the advertisement to RSPCA NSW using the form below so we can investigate the matter further. Report an Animal Identification Breach Your Details We may contact you for further information about the breach.First Name* Last Name* Email* Phone Number* Date of birth - DD/MM/YY - You must be 18 years old to legally make a report* DD slash MM slash YYYY Please select the type of breach you are reporting*You can select more than one if relevant. Puppy or kitten aged under 8 weeks old No microchip number, breeder identification number or re-homing organisation number Incorrect microchip number, breeder identification number or re-homing organisation number Breach details Tell us more about the animal/s involved.Type of animal*Please selectKitten - less than 6 months oldPuppy - less than 6 months oldCatDogE.g. Cat or KittenIs urgent veterinary care required?*Please selectYesNoUnknown When did you see this advertisment?* DD slash MM slash YYYY Date Where did you see this advertisement?*Please provide as much detail as possible.Please selectOnline (including websites and social media)Other Please include all relevant links to the advertisement*If you saw it online, in a private group, please include screenshots or photos on the next slide. Please provide further information about the advertisement*The more information you provide about the advertisement, the better. Upload photos or screenshotsImages are crucial to investigations, especially if posts are made in private groups or deleted. Drop files here or Select files Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 2 MB. Person responsible details: Do you know the person responsible? If so please provide the below confidential information.First Name Last Name Email Phone Number Address Any relevant links e.g. social media profile, websites etc. Is there anything else you would like to tell us? The RSPCA is committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). You can read our Collection Notice here.Personal Information Collection Notice By completing this form, you are providing personal information to RSPCA NSW (we, us, or our). Further details about how we manage personal information is contained in our Personal Information Collection Notice at rspcansw.org/collection-notice and Privacy Policy at rspcansw.org.au/privacy-policy.Personal Information Collection Notice* I have read the Personal Information Collection Notice before providing my personal information and I agree to its terms. Animal Identification Breach FAQsWhy have these changes been made to POCTAA? These amendments have been made to POCTAA in response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Companion Animal Breeding Practices. The changes, which are welcomed by RSPCA NSW, will help people looking to adopt or buy a companion animal make a more informed choice about the animal’s history and existing owners. The changes will also make it easier for animal enforcement agencies, like ours, to seek out or keep an eye on ‘problem’ breeders. What constitutes an approved ‘identification number’ under POCTAA? As a recognised rehoming organisation, RSPCA NSW will display a Rehoming Organisation Number (RON) provided by local government. For other organisations or individuals, approved identification includes a breeder identification number or microchip number. How do I get an identification number? Microchip number: In NSW, all cats and dogs (excluding those exempt) are required to have a microchip by 12 weeks of age or before being sold or given away. You can get your pet microchipped at your local veterinarian. Breeder identification number: Breeder identification numbers are free and available to cat and dog breeders through the NSW Pet Registry. A breeder must acquire a breeder identification number before selling or giving away a cat or dog. Rehoming Organisation Number: Rehoming Organisation Numbers (RON) are issued to local councils, pounds, shelters and other approved rehoming organisations by the Office of Local Government. What happens if an identification number is not provided on an advertisement looking to sell or rehome a companion animal? From 1 July 2019, it will be an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 to fail to provide an identification number in advertisements selling or rehoming companion animals. Individuals or organisations who fail to comply can be issued an immediate fine of $330, with a maximum penalty of $5,500 in court. What will RSPCA NSW do if they find a breeder or individual has breached this requirement? The NSW State Government has determined that a breach of the requirement to provide an identification number on advertisements is an offence to be dealt with pursuant to the provisions in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (NSW) 1979. Where RSPCA NSW receives a complaint in this regard, it will be assigned to an Inspector for investigation and where appropriate enforcement action, including by issuing Penalty Infringement Notices to the value of $330 or where appropriate, the Court can impose a fine up to and including $5500.00. Do working dogs count under this new requirement? Under the Companion Animals Act 1998, some working dogs are not required to be microchipped and therefore do not need to comply with this advertising requirement. Please refer to the Companion Animals Act 1998 for more information on what dogs do and don’t count under this exception. What about racing Greyhounds? If a Greyhound racing participant wants to rehome or sell a Greyhound they own, they must provide a microchip number or a registered participant number on the advertisement. What about animals outside NSW? An identification number doesn’t have to be provided on animals advertised in states outside of New South Wales unless the state it’s advertised in also has requirements about listing identification numbers. RSPCA Policies LegislationPrevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979)
