Every territorial authority must keep a register of all dogs registered with it in accordance with the Dog Control Act 1996 ("the Act"). The register holds information on all registered dogs including the owner's name, address and date of birth and the dogs microchip number (if applicable), sex, age and breed as required by the Act. Access to the register is strictly limited to staff employed by, or contracted to, each territorial authority, specifically those involved in animal control. Registered information may not be disclosed by the territorial authority unless in accordance with the Act. It will be retained and disposed of in accordance with the Public Records Act 2005.