Lost, stray or abused animals

Dogs and cats which are registered are often able to be reunited with their families quickly.

If your dog or cat is missing:

  1. Check your animal’s petregistry.nsw.gov.au profile to ensure your contact details are up to date. If you animal is found, the microchip will be scanned and cross referenced with the Pet Registry.
  2. Advise Council via email, with a photo of your dog or cat to assist identification, as well as the microchip details (which will be on your Certificate of Identification), and where the animal was last seen.
  3. Advise the local pound Sydney Dog and Cat Home and check their Lost page.
  4. Tell your neighbours and post in your local Facebook group/s.
  5. Advise local vets.

If you find a dog you think may be lost:

  1. If safe to do so, view the animal’s tag information and contact the owner or Council.
  2. If there is no tag information or you feel unsafe viewing it, advise Council via email with details of the stray dog, ideally with a photo of the animal and where you have seen it.
  3. If the stray dog appears aggressive or in imminent danger (e.g. on a road), call Council. If the stray dog or cat is injured, contact a local vet if they will accept the animal.

If feasible, Council Rangers will collect a stray dog and take it to the Sydney Dog and Cat Home. The NSW Companion Animals Act also allows citizens to take a stray dog to the local pound (the Sydney Dog and Cat Home), but this should only be done if safe to do so.

Unlike for dogs, the NSW Companion Animals Regulation does not require cats to be contained to their owner’s home. As such, Council has no powers to collect a stray cat. However, Waverley Council strongly encourages cat owners to always keep their pet indoors.

   
 

For injured wildlife contact WIRES

 


Animal abuse

Cruelty to animals is illegal and comes with heavy fines.

  • If you believe an animal is being kept in poor condition, notify the Animal Welfare League or the RSPCA.
  • If you witness an act of animal cruelty, contact the local police via the non-urgent phone number 131 444.

Council does not have jurisdiction to address animal cruelty or concerns for welfare.