- If your cat or dog has been missing for more than 72 hours, please notify Kempsey Shire Council by phoning 6566 3200.
- If you have a restricted dog or a declared dangerous or menacing dog, by law you must notify Council within 24 hours of noticing that your dog has gone missing.
When you report a missing cat or dog, it is important to confirm your correct contact details so that Council can reunite you with your pet when it is found.
If a cat or dog is found without an owner in a public place, a Council ranger will scan the animal for a microchip and make all reasonable attempts to contact the owner as listed on the NSW Pet Registry.
If the animal doesn't have a microchip or registration, or if the owner can't be contacted, a ranger will take the dog or cat to the to Kempsey Pound.
View the animals currently in Council care
If your pet is at the pound, you will need to fill in a release form and pay a fee for food and boarding before it can be released.
If your pet is not microchipped and registered, it must be microchipped and registered at your expense before it can be released.
If your pet is listed as being at the pound, please make note of the Council reference number as you will need to quote this when reclaiming.
The release process looks a little different for each animal and depends on the animal's current status.
Animal is already microchipped, registered and desexed
- Contact us on 02 6566 3200 and quote the Council reference number of your pet.
- The impounding officer at the Kempsey Pound will then contact you to discuss the details of your pet and the release process, as well as any associated fees.
- Once the fees have been paid, the officer will work with you to arrange a time for collection of the animal from the Kempsey Pound.
Animal is microchipped but not registered and not desexed
- Contact us on 02 6566 3200 and quote the Council reference number of your pet.
- The impounding officer at the Kempsey Pound will contact you to discuss the release process, including the registering of your pet. Fees will charged for daily maintenance.
- If you don't want to have your pet desexed, you will be required to complete registration forms and pay the higher fee for registration of an intact animal.
- If you would like to have the animal desexed and pay a discounted registration fee, you will need to contact your preferred veterinary clinic in Kempsey and make an appointment. The officer will drop your pet off at the veterinary clinic on the date of the appointment. Before you pick up your pet from the vet, you will need to visit the Customer Service Centre at Kempsey Shire Council to complete the required paperwork and pay the required fees. Following the veterinary procedure, you will collect your pet from the clinic. You will then need to return to the Customer Service Centre at Kempsey Shire Council to show the desexing certificate to finalise the registration process.
Animal is not microchipped, not registered and not desexed
- Contact us on 02 6566 3200 and quote the Council reference number of your pet.
- The impounding officer at the Kempsey Pound will contact you to discuss the release process, including the registering of your pet. Fees will charged for daily maintenance.
- If you don't want to have your pet desexed, you will be required to complete registration forms and pay the associated fee for the registration and microchipping of an intact animal.
- If you would like to have your pet desexed for a discounted registration fee, you will need to contact your preferred veterinary clinic in Kempsey and make an appointment for desexing and microchipping. The officer will drop your pet off at the clinic on the date of the veterinary appointment. Before you pick up your pet from the veterinary clinic, you need to visit the Customer Service Centre at Kempsey Shire Council to complete the required paperwork and pay the registration and any outstanding release fees. Following the veterinary procedure(s), you will collect your pet from the clinic.
- You then need to return to the Customer Service Centre at Kempsey Shire Council to show the desexing and microchip certificates to finalise the registration process.
The release process has been put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals impounded with the Council.
We are here for you throughout the process and can support you through our Customer Service team.
View the animals currently in Council care
Kempsey Pound (Rehoming Organisation Number: R251000154) is provided as a service to residents in the Kempsey Shire for lost, surrendered or unclaimed cats and dogs. Animals are kept safe and protected until their owner can be contacted.
Under the Companions Animals Act 1998 (NSW), impounded animals are held for 14 days if microchipped and seven days if not microchipped.
View the animals currently in Council care.
The pound is located at Frederickton. The road to the pound leads off the northern roundabout of the Pacific Highway interchange at Frederickton.
Dogs and cats that are available for adoption are highlighted on the Animals in care page.
In most cases, these animals have been surrendered to the pound, or they have become lost and their owner can’t be found.
By adopting a dog or cat from the pound, you are giving an animal in need a much-deserved second chance. However, pet ownership is a commitment that should be carefully considered. Council takes every possible step to ensure that animals are adopted into safe, secure and loving forever homes.
Learn more about the pet adoption process