Domestic Animals Regulations 2025

A licence holder must not amend the identifying information contained in a record kept and maintained by the licence holder in relation to a prescribed animal unless—

the licence holder has received an application to so amend the record from the person specified as the owner of the animal in the identifying information contained in the record; or

the licence holder has received an application to so amend the record from a Departmental authorised officer; or

in the case of an application for a change of ownership of the animal—

the licence holder has received an application from the new owner of the animal to change the ownership of the animal and a declaration from the new owner that they own the animal; and

the licence holder has notified the person specified as the owner of the animal in the identifying information contained in the record about that animal of the application within 7 business days of receiving the application and declaration referred to in subparagraph (i); and

within 14 business days after receiving notification under subparagraph (ii), the owner has either confirmed the ownership change in writing or has not responded to the notification; or

in the case of an application for a change of ownership of the animal, the licence holder has received an application to change the ownership of the animal from a pound or animal shelter which operates a domestic animal business from a premises registered for that purpose under Part 4 of the Act; or

there has been a change in ownership of the animal as a result of an order of a court and the new owner of the animal—

applies to the licence holder to amend the record to change the ownership of the animal; and

provides a copy of the order to the licence holder.

The licence holder must comply with the following requirements relating to the amendment under subregulation (1) of the identifying information contained in a record kept and maintained by the licence holder in relation to a prescribed animal—

in the case of an amendment under subregulation (1)(a) or (b), the licence holder must amend the record within 7 business days after receiving the application;

in the case of an amendment under subregulation (1)(c), the licence holder must amend the record to change the ownership of the animal within 7 business days after the 14 business day period referred to in subregulation (1)(c)(iii);

the licence holder must amend the record to change the ownership of the animal within 7 business days after receiving an application to change the ownership of the animal under subregulation (1)(d);

the licence holder must amend the record to change the ownership of the animal within 7 business days after receiving both an application to change the ownership of the animal and a copy of the order of a court referred to in subregulation (1)(e).

If a licence holder becomes aware of a dispute over the ownership of a prescribed animal in respect of which the licence holder keeps a record, the licence holder—

must enter details of the dispute on to the record; and

must not amend the record to change the ownership of the animal unless the licence holder is provided with an order of a court which provides that a person who is not the person specified as the owner of the animal in the identifying information contained in the record is the owner of the animal.

If a licence holder amends a record kept in relation to a prescribed animal to change the ownership of that animal, the licence holder must ensure that the previous ownership details are retained in that record.

If the licence owner has amended a record kept in relation to a prescribed animal to change the ownership of that animal under this regulation, the licence holder must provide the new owner of the animal with a certificate of identification that complies with regulation 42(2), within 7 business days after amending the record.