Pet Exchange Register
From 1 July 2020, the source number of the breeder of any dog or cat, or the source number of the council pound, animal shelter, pet shop or foster carer that owns the animal will be required when implanting a microchip into a dog or cat born after that date.
The Pet Exchange Register allows you to:
- enrol for a source number
- check the validity of a source number
- report a non-compliant advertisement.
Access the Pet Exchange Register
If you are a registered domestic animal business or voluntarily enrolled foster carer with your local council, there is no need to register as your local council will register on your behalf.
Legal responsibilities
It is an offence to advertise a dog or cat for sale or to give away unless the advertisement includes both:
- the individual animal’s microchip number
- a source number generated by the Pet Exchange Register.
Offences apply to:
- the person selling the pet
- the publisher of the non-compliant advertisement.
Victorians getting a new dog or cat should check the validity of a seller on the Pet Exchange Register before they bring their new pet home.
The Pet Exchange Register can also be used to report advertisements without a source number or the individual animal's microchip number.
Assistance is available by contacting Animal Welfare Victoria by phone on 136 186 or per@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Greyhounds sold by Greyhound Racing Victoria
The Pet Exchange Register’s requirements and associated offences don't apply to advertisements for Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) greyhounds — they are exempt.
For further information, please see the GRV greyhound gazette notice (PDF, gazette website).
Rescue organisation and Community Foster Care Network (CFCN) enrolments
Rescue organisations and CFCNs can easily enrol on the Pet Exchange Register for a source number.
To find out how to enrol on behalf of your organisation:
- The Pet Exchange Register for rescue organisations and Community Foster Care Networks (PDF - 446.8 KB)
- The Pet Exchange Register for rescue organisations and Community Foster Care Networks (WORD - 1.0 MB)
Frequently asked questions
A set of FAQs and a helpful infographic can be downloaded in several languages:
English
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (English) (PDF - 368.6 KB)
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (English) (WORD - 1023.7 KB)
Vietnamese
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (Vietnamese) (PDF - 284.0 KB)
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (Vietnamese) (WORD - 1023.7 KB)
Chinese
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (Chinese) (PDF - 140.4 KB)
- Pet Exchange Register — FAQ (Chinese) (WORD - 62.2 KB)
Arabic
Source numbers
Find out if you need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register:
Yes, you need to register.
Council registers for you.
Yes, you need to register.
Self-enrol as a recreational breeder.
Yes, you need to register.
Self-enrol as a microbreeder.
Yes, you need to register.
Self-enrol.
No, you don't need to register.
No, you don't need to register.
Yes, you need to register.
Self-enrol the organisation.
Yes, you need to register.
Council registers for you.
Yes, you need to register.
Self-enrol.
Yes, you need to register.
The source number of the breeder, council pound, animal shelter, pet shop or foster carer that owns the animal will be required when implanting a microchip into a dog or cat born after 1 July 2020.
This content is also available in PDF format: Do I need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register? (PDF - 855.3 KB)