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Puppy Farms Legislative progress

Puppy Farms Legislative progress. Jade Norris, Scientific Officer RSPCA Australia. Puppy Farms. Major RSPCA campaign to end puppy farming since end of 2009 For a number of years prior to this  RSPCA Inspectorates have had direct experience rescuing animals from puppy farms .

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Puppy Farms Legislative progress

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  1. Puppy FarmsLegislative progress Jade Norris, Scientific Officer RSPCA Australia

  2. Puppy Farms • Major RSPCA campaign to end puppy farming since end of 2009 • For a number of years prior to this RSPCA Inspectorates have had direct experience rescuing animals from puppy farms. • Run through legislative progress since 2009

  3. Puppy farm definition • A puppy farm (puppy factory/puppy mill) is an intensive dog breeding facility that is operated under inadequate conditions that fail to meet the dogs' behavioural, social and/or physiological needs. • Usually large-scale commercial operations, but inadequate conditions may also exist in small volume breeding establishments which may or may not be run for profit.

  4. Puppy Farms

  5. Puppy Farms

  6. Puppy Farms

  7. Puppy farms

  8. Puppy Farms

  9. Puppy farms • In Australia current regulations for the breeding and sale of dogs are inadequate • Various gaps exist (see National Regulation tables).

  10. Regulation of breeding

  11. Regulation of sale

  12. Regulation of sale cont’d

  13. Progress • Since start of puppy farm campaign some legislative progress • However, more work is urgently needed within individual states/territories • National co-ordination to allow breeder traceability across state borders • Export requirements

  14. The Good news Tasmania • AWAC planning Code for the breeding of dogs • 1st July 2011 Mandatory to microchip dogs from 6 months of age

  15. Victoria • Domestic Animals Actreviewed • New government advisedthey are committed to legislative change for the Spring session • Increased powers to RSPCA Inspectorate to enforce the Domestic Animals Act, previously only enforceable by local government officers • When a cruelty complaint is investigated and breaches of the Domestic Animals Act are evident, RSPCA Inspectors now have the power to act outside of POCTAA

  16. South Australia • COP for the Care and Management of Animals in the Pet Trade reviewed • Public consultation phase • Awaitingfinal draft of Code to be released by SA government

  17. NT • No changes apart from; • a number of councils have made microchipping mandatory for dogs over 6 months of age • There is no Domestic Animals Act in the NT there are local by-laws.

  18. QLD • Government announced Breeder ID system Scheme includes: • Breeder ID • compulsory microchipping of breeding bitch • breeder ID no’s to be displayed at points of sale and in advertising • ID of breeding bitch part of the microchipinformation on all her puppies • development of Dog Breeder Standards under Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 • Gold Coast Breeder Permit System (which Joy Verrinder just gave an update on).

  19. ACT • No regulatory changes • Discussion paper "The Breeding and Sale of Companion Animals in the ACT“ September 2010 • Enforceable COP under Animal Welfare Act 1992 • Recent changes to Animal Welfare Act 1992 allow inclusion of mandatory enforceable components in codes • Awaiting release by ACT government

  20. NSW • Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Animals in Pet Shops • Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding Dogs and Cats • Both enable enforcement of standards • Difficulty - with no central register of breeders, RSPCA may not know where all breeding facilities are • May not be sure animals kept in accordance with breeding standards • Central register of breeders, breeder prefix and microchip number to be included in any advertisement and at sale or transfer

  21. WA • No changes • Benefit from: • Compulsory microchipping • Kennel licence but no standards for breeding dogs

  22. Australian National Kennel Council • Microchipping compulsory for all registered pedigree dogs before registration of pup - nationally 1st January 2012 • Great step forward • enables positive ID pedigree dogs • drive compulsory microchipping forall puppies • breeder traceability

  23. Key points • Regulations for breeding and sale inadequate • Greater resources for monitoring and enforcement • enforcement model, co-regulatory approach • animal welfare inspectors (RSPCA or govt depts) and local govtanimal management officers • Qld scheme, breeder code adopted under ACPA, registration under Animal Management (Dogs and Cats) Act • National inconsistency – variations between states/territories

  24. Key points 2 • Lack of National co-ordination • breeder traceability across state borders • Compulsory microchipping by breeder prior to sale or transferwith nationally co-ordinated microchip database • Breeder registration/identification - breeder ID no. at any sale or transfer and in any advertisement • National approach essential but state-based initiatives are also essential

  25. Export • Export requirements not sufficient to protect welfare • Importing country sets requirements • Regulations/enforcement need to be strengthened • We need to know • where dogs have come from i.e. breeder and exporter identified, pups microchipped • where animals are going

  26. Smart Puppy Buyer Guide • Holistic approach • regulatory reform • public awareness, education

  27. End Puppy Farming – The Way Forward • RSPCA will continue to communicate key principles  in Way Forward to key stakeholders • industry, breeders, governments policy makers at every available opportunity

  28. Thanks!

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