Please note, assistance dogs are now exempt from paying animal registration fees.
What is an assistance dog?
An assistance dog "is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effects of his or her disability.”
This can include, but not limited to:
- dogs trained to assist with individuals with mobility impairments
- autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- sudden medical alerts.
Are you eligible to register?
To be eligible for a fee exemption, the following must apply:
- the applicant has a disability that necessitates an assistance dog
- the assistance dog has been trained to alleviate the effect(s) of the disability
- the assistance dog has completed obedience training. Obedience training means a training program that trains an assistance dog and assesses its competency
- the assistance dog is at least 12 months old
- the assistance dog is microchipped
- the assistance dog is desexed.
Note: evidence must be a declaration from a health professional or written recommendation from and/or a declaration by the relevant treating medical practitioner.
An applicant is not eligible for free registration of their assistance dog if:
- not all eligibility criteria are satisfied
- the applicant has been found guilty of two or more offences under the DA Act with respect to the same assistance dog
- the assistance dog has been declared menacing or dangerous
- the assistance dog is a restricted breed dog.
How to register your assistance dog
If you are eligible, please complete the Animal Registration Application form.pdf(PDF, 223KB) and provide supporting evidence (as listed in the eligibility criteria) and return it to Council in person or email at:
Civic Centre
Corner Lyttleton Street and Lloyd Street,
Castlemaine VIC 3450
Email: info@mountalxander.vic.gov.au