Choosing a pet and caring for it

Owning a pet can bring you many benefits, such as:

• companionship and affection
• a sense of loyalty and responsibility
• improved health and reduced stress.

It is important to choose a pet that will best suit you, your home and lifestyle, and the needs of your pet.

Carefully consider if you are ready for the responsibility of becoming a pet owner.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a pet owner include:

• providing appropriate food, shelter and care
• registering your dog and cat in some council areas
• microchipping your cat or dog
• desexing to avoid unwanted litters
• safeguarding the welfare of breeding dogs and their puppies
• applying for permits (if needed).

You also have a responsibility to help ensure the safety of the community through responsible dog ownership and by following Queensland's dog ownership laws.

Choosing a pet

There is a lot for you to consider before you decide to have a pet. When choosing the type of pet, consider its suitability for you and your family.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Can you care for a dog or cat for over 10 years?
• Can you afford to own a pet? Costs may include purchase price, food, bedding, council registration, microchipping, vaccination, worming, vet bills, toys, collars and leads, grooming, de-sexing, obedience training and boarding.
• Do you have time to care for a pet? Including exercise, grooming, obedience and play.
• Can you arrange care for your pet when you're away?
• Do you live in a suitable location and type of housing for a pet?
• Do you have adequate space for the pet you are considering?
• What hours do you work? Will the pet have any company during the day?
• If renting accommodation, are you allowed to own a pet?
• If buying a puppy or kitten, can you provide care during the day and meals at regular intervals until it is 6 months of age?
• Can you confine your pet in suitable accommodation? Dogs must be safely contained to your property. Some councils require cats to be confined to their owner's property too.
• Does a pet fit in with your lifestyle, activities, sporting pursuits and priorities?

Thousands of pets are taken to animal shelters each year because owners are unable to look after them anymore. Shelters do their best to find new homes for these animals, but it can take time and places the animal under a lot of stress.

Other things to consider:

• Make sure you get new kittens or puppies from a responsible owner or breeder.
• Find out if your pet has any special needs because if you keep it, you have a duty of care to provide for it.
• Consider adopting a pet from a reputable animal welfare organisation—the RSPCA has an adoption service.
• Only support responsible dog breeders.

Registration

Dogs

In Queensland, all dogs must be registered with the local council within 14 days after moving to a new local council area.

You must include the registration fee and state when lodging your completed registration form if:

• your dog is a regulated dog—including declared dangerous or menacing
• your dog has been
• desexed—include a signed certificate from your vet
• microchipped—include the permanent identification device (PID) number.

Contact your local council to check if you have to register a working dog as some types of working dogs are exempt from registration.

Cats

Contact your local council to find out whether cats must be registered in your area.

Microchipping

Microchipping in Queensland is mandatory.

All cats and dogs between 8 and 12 weeks of age must be implanted with a microchip by the person selling or giving away the pet.

Desexing

Desexing is not mandatory for cats and most dogs. However, some local councils require dogs to be desexed.

While it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that cats and dogs be desexed if they are not being kept for breeding.

Most Queensland local councils offer incentives to register and desex cats and dogs.

Dog and cat permits

You may need a permit from local council to keep:

• more than the allowed number of domestic cats or dogs
• more than 2 dogs for breeding, racing, sale or showing
• cats for breeding or showing.

Contact your local council for:

• all cat and dog permits
• information about permits to keep other animals.

More information

• Learn about adopting a pet at the RSPCA.