Help end puppy farm horror
The puppy farm uncovered on tonight's RSPCA Animal Rescue is not an isolated incident. View the episode here.
RSPCA Inspectors across Australia have seized thousands of dogs and other animals from such establishments over the past two years, many in appalling condition and some requiring euthanasia.
RSPCA Australia CEO Heather Neil said that when it comes to dog breeding, puppy farms are at the absolute bottom of the barrel.
"Dogs on puppy farms are little more than breeding machines used to make their owners money. Most Australians would be appalled if they knew where many puppies actually came from," Ms Neil said.
"Mothers 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."
Chief Inspector of RSPCA NSW, David O'Shannessy, described one puppy farm case near Wollongong last year where Inspectors found a small dog in a cardboard box with a number of newborn puppies dead beside her.
"Some of the pups had been fastened together using a piece of electrical cable. One died of suffocation and another was tied around the legs so was swollen and bruised.
"The mother still had one puppy lodged inside the birth canal and had been in labour for over six hours. 190 dogs and pups were seized from that puppy farm with many of the females going on to give birth while in the care of the RSPCA."
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 RSPCA has released a puppy farm discussion paper and is calling on governments, responsible dog breeders and other groups to help end puppy farming in Australia.
"We face significant complications and legal hurdles in attempting to prosecute puppy farmers and preventing such farms from continuing to operate. Despite serious animal welfare problems, many puppy farms can be licensed and regulated by local government and operate under local council permits," said Ms Neil.
"The RSPCA advocates the strict regulation of the breeding, supply and sale of companion animals to help set minimum standards and stamp out the mass-production of puppies for profit."
The RSPCA is calling for feedback on the discussion paper by the end of March 2010 with the view to holding a national roundtable on the issue mid year.
For more details and to view the paper click here.
Download: Help end puppy farm horror