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  1. Australasian Animal Registry
  2. Pet owners
  3. Owner FAQs
Owner FAQs
Owner FAQs

Find the answers to all your questions about microchipping your pets, registering them with AAR, and what to do if you find a pet or if your pet goes missing.

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Pet Owner FAQs

At Australian Animal Registry (AAR) we take animal registration seriously. We require the signature of both the previous and new owner(s) to facilitate the change of ownership. To change ownership please visit the Owners Forms page and print the Change of Ownership Form. Email, fax or post the completed form with payment to AAR. Alternatively, you may commence your change of ownership online.

For online change of ownership or if the previous owner's signature cannot be obtained, AAR will contact the current registered owner on your behalf. Please allow 2 weeks for online requests to be completed and up to 4 weeks for paper requests to be completed. Statutory declarations do not apply.

Change of ownership policy including animals missing, stolen or in an ownership dispute


1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline AAR’s standard change of ownership process and where an animal’s profile is marked as missing or stolen or where there is an ownership dispute.

2. Definitions
This policy uses the following terms:

a.‘registered owner’ means the person or company who is the primary carer of the animal who feeds and cares for the animal each day and where the animal normally lives.

b.‘alternate contact’ means a person or company who has been nominated by the Owner as asecondary contact in the case that the Owner is unable to be contacted on the information provided.

3. Transfer process
Animal registered on AAR’s database:
a. Change of ownership form to be completed in full with current registered owner’s signature and submitted to AAR via email, fax or post.
b. If current registered owner’s signature cannot be obtained, AAR will contact the current owner in writing and advise them of the transfer request.
c. The current owner has 14 days to notify AAR if there are any issues with the change of ownership request. If no response received, AAR will complete the transfer.

4. Missing, Stolen or Ownership Dispute

4.1 Where a change of ownership request has been received for an animal that has been flagged as missing or stolen by the registered owner, AAR will do the following:
a. AAR will contact the registered owner to confirm the status. If the registered owner is uncontactable, AAR will then call the alternate contact in order to get in touch with the registered owner.
b If contact cannot be made, AAR will write to the registered owner to advise them of the transfer request. The current owner has 14 days to notify AAR if there are any issues with the change of ownership request. If no response received, AAR will complete the transfer.
c If the registered owner declines the transfer, the registration will remain unchanged.The person requesting the transfer will be notified in writing that their transfer request has been declined. This now becomes a civil matter and will need to be resolved between the relevant parties or via the courts.

4.2. Where a change of ownership request has been received for an animal where the record shows there is an ownership dispute, AAR will do the following, unless an order of a court of VCAT has been received by AAR.
a. AAR will contact the registered owner by phone to determine if the dispute is ongoing.
b. If the dispute has been resolved, AAR will complete the transfer.
c. If the dispute remains unresolved, AAR will not amend the record to change the ownership of theanimal.
d. Ownership disputes are a civil matter and will need to be resolved between the parties or via thecourts.

Note: The AAR database is not a register of proprietary ownership.

Contact and get to know your local vet. They will be able to organise your pet to be microchipped and registered at the same time. Microchipping is performed by authorised implanters throughout Australia. Councils also offer microchip clinics - check your local council's website for information.

 

At the Australian Animal Registry, our mission is to ensure the safe and speedy recovery of your valuable pet in the event it is lost. We are contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and when you contact us you will speak directly with a trained staff member.

 

Statutory declarations are not accepted unless in the case where the registered owner has passed away and a copy of the death certificate is not available. In this instance to transfer ownership, a change of ownership form must be completed and submitted together with the statutory declaration which outlines the name of the current registered owner.

 

Contact the registry that is holding your pet's information and let them know your animal is missing. Check that your contact information is current. Call your local vet, local council and animal shelters. You may want to create a flyer and include a description and photo of your pet and distribute it within your local area.

 

Where an email address is provided on the form, the registration certificate will be emailed on the next business day. If no email address is provided and a printed copy of the certificate has been requested, the certificate will be posted within one (1) week of registration.

 

No. The chip is as small as a grain of rice. It is implanted using a needle by an authorised person, such as a veterinarian. The animal might feel slight discomfort at the time the chip is implanted, but nothing after that time.