Campaign NewsRSPCA Qld is urging the public to get involved and vote in a State Government survey released as part of proposed legislation to help stamp out puppy farms.
The legislation hopes to squeeze out unscrupulous breeders under a proposed two-tiered breeder registration system. The registration system will be mandatory for intensive dog breeders with regular monitoring and voluntary registration for smaller scale breeders. Microchips will also be mandatory and will include the breeder's information and specific details about the mother of each litter.
The people of Queensland have been asked to have their say on how best to regulate dog breeding and vote in a survey that can be found on the Government's website.
"We're urging everyone to vote for option 4 which calls for compulsory registration of persons with 10 or more dogs," said RSPCA Qld CEO Mark Townend. "This was the preferred option from all the interested parties and of course enforcement of the legislation will be essential. So please, don't sit on the fence! Do your bit to help stamp out unscrupulous puppy farmers and help end the misery for the animals."
Please visit the government survey to vote.
In May 2010, RSPCA Qld launched the Close Puppy Factories campaign calling on the State and Local Governments to tighten laws and legislation regulating puppy factories, where breeder dogs are confined to cages for the term of their reproductive lives. Concerned citizens rallied to sign a petition calling for the regulation of the breeding, supply and sale of companion animals. Upon the close of the online petition on 7 January 2011, 25,000 plus signatures had been collected, making it the most successful petition in RSPCA Qld's history.
In response to community reaction to puppy factories, the Queensland Government has announced that it will introduce a Breeder Identification Number (BIN) system. Breeders would be required to show their identification number when selling their puppies in pet shops or elsewhere, and when advertising their puppies.
RSPCA Qld CEO Mark Townend said, "The proposed new dog breeder identification system is a progressive decision in Australian companion animal welfare and will play a major role in stamping out the mass-production of puppies."
The campaign is ongoing and the RSPCA will continue to educate about the importance of making the right choice when buying a puppy. As long as consumers remain unaware of the conditions under which many puppies are bred, puppy factories will continue to supply the demand. While the puppies reared in these factories go to new homes, the breeding dogs remain under horrific conditions.
Over the past 18 months, RSCPA Qld has investigated 12 large-scale puppy factories and rescued over 750 dogs. Most puppy factories operate outside state and local laws and do not meet a minimum standard of care. The dogs are not exercised, socialised, groomed or given human contact. As a result, many suffer severe physical and psychological problems.
As long as consumers remain unaware of the conditions under which many puppies are bred, puppy factories will continue to supply the demand. While the puppies reared in these factories go to new homes, the breeding dogs remain under horrific conditions.
Operators of puppy factories, driven by profit, see and treat their dogs as a unit of production with no consideration for their welfare. As long as consumers purchase puppies from outlets that source their puppies from puppy factories, they will continue to thrive. RSPCA is strongly opposed to puppy factories, and believes these operations should be closed. RSPCA advocates regulation of the breeding, supply and sale of companion animals. Consumers must be able to recognise a reputable source for companion animals.
