Lost animals

The City of Coffs Harbour is the local impounding authority under the Companion Animals Act 1998. We may seize dogs and cats under certain circumstances. 

See lost animals currently at the Animal Management Centre

Animals not reclaimed after their statutory hold period become available for adoption.

See animals available for adoption on the Pet Rescue website

How to claim your pet

Step 1.Pay the fees

You will need to pay a fee before we can release your pet from the centre. 

Fees can only be paid at the City's Customer Service Centre.

If you have difficulty paying you can apply for consideration under our Financial Hardship Policy.

There is a minimum fee for 2 days impounding with daily fees for additional days held. Fees are calculated from the impounding date to the proposed release date. See our Fees and Charges webpage

If your pet is not already microchipped and registered you will also need to pay for that. See the NSW Government's current registration fees

Step 2.Make an appointment

Once you have paid the fees and un-registered pets have been registered and microchipped, you can then make an appointment to pick up your animal. 

This can be done when you are at the Customer Service Centre paying the fees or by calling 02) 6648 4000

We will give you the location of the Animal Management Centre when you arrange the collection appointment. 

Step 3.Bring proof of ownership

Animals can only be returned to the owner in person or an appointed agent. 

You will need to provide personal identification that matches the ownership information recorded in the animal’s registration and microchip details. 

If your animal is not microchipped or registered, you will need to provide a statutory declaration confirming your ownership claim before we can release your pet. Statutory declarations can be obtained and completed at the City's Customer Service Centre 

If you find a stray animal

Report stray dogs to us and we can send our rangers to pick them up.

Our rangers do not collect stray cats, but we do accept them at the centre.

Contact us to make an appointment to take a stray cat to the centre. 

What we do with stray animals

Before taking an animal to our Animal Management Centre we will try to contact owners using details on the animal's tag and/or microchip. 

We give animals a health check to see whether they need any treatment. 

We upload pictures and where and when the animal was seized to our website and occasionally promote this page through the City's social media. 

How long we hold animals

Animals with an identifiable owner will be kept for a maximum of 14 working days.

Unidentified animals will be kept for a maximum of 7 working days. 

To surrender your pet

We do not accept dogs or cats being surrendered by their owners.

Owners who want to surrender their animal should contact the RSPCA Coffs Harbour.  

Rehoming unclaimed pets

Animals not reclaimed after their statutory hold period become available for adoption.

To see animals available for adoption visit the City of Coffs Harbour page on the Pet Rescue website