Animal Identification Breach

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, and  
  • Rehoming Organisation Number (RON)  
  • This rule applies regardless of:  
  • The animal’s age,  
  • The 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, and  
  • 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.  

Reporting a breach to RSPCA NSW

If you see an animal advertised without an identification number, we suggest either contacting the seller to see if a typo or mistake was made, as well as determining the validity of the number by looking it up using the NSW Pet Registry. If you believe that a breach has been made intentionally, please report it so we can investigate the matter further.

By completing this form, you are providing personal information to RSPCA NSW (we, us, or our). We are collecting your personal information to process your report of an animal identification breach in accordance with our statutory functions. Supplying your personal information is voluntary, but it may impact our ability to process this report if you do not provide it. Further details about how we manage personal information is contained in our Personal Information Collection Notice  and Privacy Policy. By submitting this form, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of our Personal Information Collection Notice.

RSPCA NSW Inspectors lead the fight against animal cruelty, working tirelessly to protect vulnerable animals and their wellbeing.

If you have suspicions or concerns that an animal is being mistreated or neglected, please submit an animal cruelty report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What constitutes an approved "identification number" under POTCAA?

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.

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.

It is 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.

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.

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.

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.