Puppy Factories
Every year hundreds of dogs are churned out of puppy factories that show little regard for their health and welfare or pet over-population.
The breeding dogs generally spend most of their lives in pens with very little social interaction or exercise. Puppy farmers will sell to anyone, wholesale and retail, and by any means, on-line, through pet shops, via newspapers and car boot sales or by using a false house as a ‘shop front'. Some puppy factories actually operate the pet shops in addition to their breeding facility, where they then sell their puppies to the unsuspecting public.
Puppies born in puppy factories often have long-term health and behavioural problems as a result of poor housing conditions, poor maternal nutrition and a lack of adequate socialisation during the crucial first few weeks of life. Other problems associated with puppy factories include over-breeding, in-breeding, minimal veterinary care and high mortality rates for puppies.
RSPCA inspectors have seized dogs from puppy factories where hundreds of breeding females have been kept in cages in appalling conditions. Both crossbreeds and purebreds can be mass-produced on puppy factories (although the purebreds are unlikely to be registered as pedigree dogs).
Puppy factories are legally permitted to operate under local council permits despite serious animal welfare concerns. Legislation only dictates the most basic of animal welfare standards, which are not acceptable to the community or to the RSPCA.
How you can help
- Ask your Federal MP how they would address these animal welfare issues.
- Never buy a puppy unless you can visit its parents and the place where it was born. Follow the RSPCA Smart Puppy Buyer's Guide.
- Report puppy factories to your local council or RSPCA
- Pledge your support for our Close Puppy Factories campaign
- Contact your local council asking them to stop puppy factories from operating in your area
What we want
The laws governing puppy factories are a mess and need to be completely overhauled. Every level of government has a responsibility to fix this problem and has the power to make it harder for puppy factories to operate.
Federal Government
- Tighten export provisions for the sale of puppies overseas – this is a small but lucrative market for puppy farmers.
- Ask the Australian Taxation Office to investigate known individuals involved in puppy farming – our information indicates that puppy farmers favour cash transactions and may not declare their full income.
- Work with State/Territory Governments to reform and harmonise animal welfare and consumer protection legislation and processes.
- Work with State/Territory Governments to develop national standards for the breeding and selling of companion animals.
State Governments
- Require all breeders to obtain a state government licence to breed dogs.
- Make licencing conditional on compliance with a Code of Practice outlining enforceable standards.
- Strengthen Codes of Practice to better protect the health and welfare of animals in these establishments.
- Introduce a compulsory registration and licensing system for all outlets selling companion animals.
- Legislation should incorporate mandatory minimum standards for pet shops with specific requirements in relation to stopping puppy farming.
- Legislation should be amended to prevent puppy farmers from continuing their business while any legal proceedings against them are underway.
- Increase RSPCA's authority to enforce Codes of Practice.
- Make it compulsory for all pet shops and other retail outlets to desex animals prior to sale to bring into line legislation that exists for animal welfare shelters.
Local Councils
- Should not be providing permits for puppy factories to operate on private land without appropriate licences and enforcing adherence to standards.
- For breeding establishments that are in operation, local councils should implement a strict enforcement and inspection regime with instant revocation of permits where welfare standards are deemed unacceptable.