Buying or breeding dogs and cats

Before buying a dog or cat

Check that the person you're buying a dog or cat from is registered using the Breeder Search at  Dogs and Cats Online

 As a buyer, you should expect the following:

• Name, address and phone number of the seller
• Name, address and phone number of each breeder involved in breeding the dog or cat for sale and their Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) breeder number(s)
• Any vaccination details, name and address of the vet who desexed the dog or cat (if desexed), and any other vet treatment the animal has received
• The dog or cat has been microchipped prior to sale
• Name and address of the microchip implanter, microchip number and date of procedure, registries the microchip information is stored on
• Any vet exemptions from microchipping or desexing
• Details of any known illness or medical condition
• For dogs, any control order on the dog

Help for breeders and new owners

The Dog and Cat Management Board's pamphlet buying or selling a dog or cat? provides useful information to help breeders and buyers/owners understand their obligations to the mandatory desexing, microchipping, registration laws and what to record in Dogs and Cats Online.

Do you intend to sell dogs or cats you have bred?

There are new laws regulating the breeding and selling of dogs and cats:

• Any person who sells a dog or cat they've bred must be a registered breeder on Dogs and Cats Online (DACO)
• The renewal process will allow you to renew your breeder registration or register as a breeder
• Breeders are allocated a lifetime DACO breeder registration number, which must be included in all advertisements for sale. Please refer to the Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017, Section 19 Information to be given to buyers
• Breeder registration expires on 30 June each year
• Breeders and sellers must adhere to the new South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals

For further information please visit the Dog and Cat Management Board.