Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. Being a pet owner is a serious business and Hastings Council has provided a range of information regarding your rights and responsibilities as a pet owner on these pages. Please visit the links provided to find out more about the Companion Animals Act and other information regarding companion animals.

The Companion Animals Act, which first came into effect in September 1998, benefits pets, their owners and the Hastings community.

The permanent identification and lifetime registration system which came into effect on 1 July 1999 has helped Council return lost and injured animals to their owners.