A free, gentle way to register any pet
United Pet Club's pet registration is free for every species, for the whole of a pet's life. Set up a profile in just a few minutes, no microchip needed, and add chip, tag, and passport records whenever you happen to have them.
What registering a pet actually involves
Registering creates a record, your pet's name, species, breed, photo, and birth date, linked to your contact details within the United Pet Club registry. Vets, shelters, and finders are all able to reach that record when it matters, and you're free to update it whenever your own details change. There's no fee to set it up, and none to keep it going either.
Pet registration isn't quite the same as microchip registration. The profile is the record itself; a microchip is simply one way of linking a found animal back to it. A pet without a chip still benefits from having a profile, and once your vet does implant one, the fifteen-digit number can simply be added to the profile you already have. ID tags and pet passports attach to that same record too.
It's worth knowing the registry isn't limited to dogs and cats either. Birds, rabbits, ferrets, horses, reptiles, and livestock can all be registered the same way, our guide to registering other pets covers the details specific to each.
Four gentle steps to get registered
1
Set up a free account
Sign up using your email. This holds every pet you register, along with any updates you make later on.
2
Add your pet's details
Name, species, breed, colour, birth date if you happen to know it, and a clear photo. The photo does matter quite a bit, it's what helps confirm a match if a finder or shelter checks the record.
3
Add any ID your pet already has
A microchip number, tag code, tattoo, or passport number, whatever applies. If there's nothing yet, that's fine too, identifiers can always be added later.
4
Keep everything current
Update the record whenever you move or change your number. Updates don't cost anything and take effect right away.
A little about what's included, free
Free for every species
Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, reptiles, livestock, it makes no difference, registration doesn't cost anything regardless of the animal.
No microchip needed
The profile works perfectly well on its own. A chip, tag, or passport number can be added later, or not at all, and the record still does its job.
Every ID gathered in one place
Microchip, QR tag, tattoo, and passport numbers all point back to the one profile, so whichever a finder happens to come across, it still leads back to you.
A record with some weight to it
Shows who a pet has been linked to and since when, which tends to help with adoptions, rehoming, and any ownership questions.
Upgrade only if you'd like to
Extras like scan alerts and the round-the-clock live agent line sit within upgraded plans, though the core registration never depends on them.
One profile, a few different kinds of ID
A microchip is permanent, though it does need a scanner. A tag can be read by anyone but might fall off. A passport carries the paper trail along with it. Each covers something the others miss, and within the United Pet Club registry, all three lead back to the very same profile, so it hardly matters which one a finder happens to come across first.
A few pet registration questions
Where can I register my pet online for free in New Zealand?
At United Pet Club (unitedpetclub.com). Registration is free for every species and stays free for the whole of your pet's life, no renewal fee, no expiry, and unlimited updates to your contact details. It works worldwide too, so you're able to register from any country and the record simply travels with you.
Does my pet need a microchip before registering?
Not at all. The profile works perfectly well without any identifier. Should your pet be chipped later on, that number can simply be added to the profile you already have, rather than starting fresh.
Which animals am I able to register?
Just about any pet, really. Dogs and cats are the most common, though the registry equally covers birds, rabbits, ferrets, horses, reptiles, livestock, and other companion animals.
Is pet registration the same thing as microchip registration?
They're related, though not quite the same. Pet registration builds your pet's profile within the registry. Microchip registration links a particular chip number to that profile. United Pet Club offers both, free, under the one account.
Does registering prove that the pet is mine?
It tends to work as strong supporting evidence rather than legal title as such. The record shows who the pet's linked to and since when, which can help settle disputes, adoptions, and boarding mix-ups.
A record worth having, at no cost
Registration is free, takes only a few minutes, and covers every pet you happen to have at home.