In New South Wales, pet registrations are recorded on the NSW Companion Animal Register. Dogs must be registered by six months and by an owner 18 years of age or over.
A record is created when a council receives an identification form with the animal’s microchip number, owner and animal details. A council will post a Certificate of Registration to the pet owner.
Registration tags are not issued however it is the responsibility of the owner to attach an ID tag to their pet’s collar displaying name and contact details.
In the case of Japan, if you have a dog that is more than 90 days old, you must register the dog at the municipal office. After completing the registration, you will be given a dog license tag.
Since the license tag is required for the life of the dog, it would be good to attach the license tag to the dog’s collar.
When the dog runs away from home or becomes lost somewhere, if the person who finds it contacts the municipal office or the public health centre, it is almost certain that the dog can be returned to the registered owner.
The owner of a dog is also required to have their pet vaccinated against rabies. Rabies shots are given collectively once a year by the municipal office, and all registered dog owners will be notified of the vaccination period by the municipal newsletter.
Please keep in mind there are not so many apartment buildings in Japan that allow pets. Before moving in with your pet, it would be advisable for you to first confirm with the building manager or owner whether pets are allowed.