Guidelines for the Adoption and Sale of Animals in Tasmania
Cats
Microchipping and Desexing: All cats must be microchipped and desexed before being listed for adoption or sale. This measure increases the likelihood of reunification if a cat becomes lost and helps prevent overpopulation.
Age Requirement: Cats cannot be rehomed until they are at least 8 weeks old. This age requirement is crucial for the kitten’s health and social development.
Vaccination Standards: Each cat must be vaccinated to a minimum level of F3 (Feline 3), which includes protection against common feline diseases. This vaccination is recommended by the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) as a standard for health and safety.
Parasite Treatment: All cats must be free from external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, and must have received treatment for internal worms. This is essential for the cat’s health and the welfare of other pets.
Dogs
Microchipping: Dogs must be microchipped by the time they reach 6 months of age. This requirement helps identify lost dogs and promotes responsible pet ownership. Listings for puppies must include the puppy’s microchip number or the dam’s registration number, along with the name of the council where the dam is registered.
Vaccination Certificates: When dogs are rehomed, it is mandatory to provide new owners with a vaccination certificate that documents the vaccinations the dog has received. This ensures that the new owner is informed of the dog’s health status.
Age Requirement: Similar to cats, dogs cannot be rehomed before they reach 8 weeks of age. This timeline is important to ensure that puppies are adequately weaned and socialised.
Parasite Treatment: Each dog should have a treatment plan in place for both internal and external parasites. This is vital for their health, as parasites can cause various health problems.
Farm Animals and Poultry
Property Identification Code (PIC): Every livestock-producing property must have a Property Identification Code (PIC) allocated by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) or an equivalent authority. When listing animals such as cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, deer, chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, or turkeys, it is necessary to include the PIC in the listing to ensure traceability.
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS): Cattle, sheep, and goats must have NLIS tags for identification. These tags are essential for tracking livestock for disease control and food safety.
Pigs: Pigs must be identified with either an NLIS tag or a brand/tattoo. Additionally, the adoption of a pig must be logged on the PigPass National Vendor Declaration to ensure proper tracking and health declarations.
Exemptions
Desexing Exemptions: There are no exemptions provided for desexing cats. For dogs over 8 weeks of age, desexing exemptions may be granted; however, any dog advertised with an exemption must be desexed before the transfer of ownership.
Microchip Exemptions: Microchip exemptions do not apply to cats. For dogs aged 8 weeks to 6 months, microchip exemptions may be considered; however, dogs in this age group must be microchipped by 6 months of age or before the transfer of ownership, whichever occurs first.
Vaccination Exemptions: While vaccination exemptions may be available, all pets must be fully vaccinated before ownership transfer to ensure their health and safeguard public health.
This detailed guideline aims to promote responsible pet ownership and ensure the well-being of all animals involved in adoption and sale processes in Tasmania.