Puppy Farms
The truth behind where many puppies sold in Australia come from isn't as straightforward as a chat about the birds and the bees. Puppy breeding establishments take many forms and can range from extremely bad (puppy farms, exploitative hoarders) through to excellent (dog enthusiasts who put the animal's health and welfare as the first priority).
Puppy Farms are at the bottom of the barrel. A puppy mill or puppy farm is a mass-production facility that breeds puppies for profit. The puppies and their mothers are often kept in very poor conditions. Breeding animals may be continually mated and kept with their puppies in cages and never allowed out to exercise, play, have companionship or even go to the toilet.
Puppies born in puppy farms 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.
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'.
The question people should be asking isn't 'how much is that dog in the window' but rather 'where did that pup actually come from'?
We don't know how many puppy farms there are in Australia, but with the advent of internet sales it is a growing national problem.
- What is a puppy farm?
- What is a backyard breeder?
- What is a registered breeder?
- What is a responsible companion animal breeder?
- Are there laws that require breeders to meet certain standards of care?
- How do I avoid supporting puppy farms?
Puppy Farm Discussion Paper
The RSPCA has received some excellent feedback on its Puppy Farm Discussion Paper and is in the process of compiling a summary of ideas put forward.
A national roundtable meeting will be held in Canberra in August to discuss the outcomes arising from the discussion paper.
For more information contact RSPCA Australia.