Puppy Farm Awareness Rally

[Julie R]

7 weeks ago we had a pipe dream. Today we had thousands supporting Oscar's Law.

This rally was organised by 5 people, 4 from independent Victorian dog rescue organisations plus the founder of Oscar's Law Deb Tranter. Look what the little guys in rescue can do in 7 weeks.

Thank you to everyone that attended today or helped along the way to make this historic day happen.

What a fantastic effort. Well done! I was glad to be able to come along and support such a worthy cause.

I too was very proud to be at the Rally today.

To Debra and her helpers WELL DONE. what an achievement.

After today’s press release and hearing the opposition speak at the Rally I will definitely be voting for the Liberals this coming election. Did anyone hear what Joe Helper said on the news tonight!!!!. there are not many Puppy farms!!!!!!!! maybe he should get out of his office and where ever else it is that he has been hiding in or under over the past years and see what is happening in the real world.

Once again WELL DONE to all involved in Oscars Law.

Pam

[Snout Girl]

I had a teary after the song with the guitar

Hi bertandsally. I think I spoke to you - I had the Newfie.

hi perfect partner was good to meet you.

i think my OH wants to steal your dog :D

[Christina]

My little girl was not happy in her 7 foot long puppy pen with a heat pad at one end, soft blankets on the pen floor & cot bumpers all the way around for her babies so I put one of those nasty cardboard boxes in one end with a bit cut out for her to get in & out. She was happy & contented then with her babies. :D

Oh well I guess we can sacrifice in future for the greater good

Great turn out & hope it helps the dogs that really need help & does not penalise the rest of us too much.

Something has to be done, lets hope it is enforced sensibly.

[Lindainfa]

Is there going to be another rally in the future, I wasn't able to make today, but I wanted to show my support so bad. Well done to everyone!

[Lindainfa]

Is there going to be another rally in the future, I wasn't able to make today, but I wanted to show my support so bad. Well done to everyone!

[Tara and Sam]

Derryn Hinch is not backward in what he comes out with so think he is a good spokesman

I missed the tv with DOLers

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/17/3015062.htm

High-profile broadcaster Derryn Hinch says shops should stop selling pets in order to shut down the "cruel and brutal" puppy farm trade

keep ringing his radio talk back and bring up the subject and he will continue to broadcast it around

[jata]

A couple of pics..

[HugUrPup]

Oh yeh Banskia looks like the dogs are in great conditions

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefin...rowofcages2.htm

Edited September 19, 2010 by puggerup

[Cosmolo]

If everyone is so concerned about registered breeders being targetted, please tell me WHERE were your representatives?? Why did DOGS VIC not attend to promote and present registered breeders point of difference. Perhaps you should direct complaints to them for not being a part of what was a superb event.

I did 2 interviews for channel 7 and the ABC as well as my speech and the point was made about the difference between registered ethical breeders and puppy factories. Its not all cloak and dagger conspiracies and maybe if people actually got involved instead of complaining, responsible and effective change could be made more promptly.

[mackiemad]

exactly what i was thinking during your speech cosmolo.

they're happy to whinge and whine that they'll get caught up in this, but they don't appear nor try to have their voice heard when the time comes, and they were happy enough to get into bed with the government for ONLY their members with the recent dangerous dog legislation.

people were standing up for something today, but instead of coming along and doing what they could to spearate themselves from puppy farmers and unethical breeders, many decided-and most importantly their representatives certainly did-to hide away, ensuring that many of the ignorant public may confuse them with the 'bad guys' in the future.

i loved the rally today, i loved that many people came out and stood up for those that haven't a voice, and did so with pretty much no publicity. could it have done with less speeches? yes-mainly because many of those that weren't used to speaking sounded less passionate than i'm certain they were and much of the same information was repeated. did i personally enjoy the song and poem? no, it was a bit too koom-bay-ah for me, but i appreciate that it hit an emotional chord with others. did i have a fantastic time? yes. were pretty much all of the speeches right on, leaving not too much grey area? hell yeah.

[Are You Serious Jo]

What happens if the average registered breeder who has a few litters, enjoys showing and carefully places their puppies, cannot comply with any new legislation? What if the new legislation is made to hard to comply with for those breeders who live in the suburbs. You have to put all the pieces together and think about ramifications. New laws are going to lead to a few big puppy farm operations that supply all our dogs. They will be making a killing so will be bale to pay a small amount to comply. How can a small exhibitor/breeder pay the same fees when they are already out of pocket so much because they do the right thing? We have already seen what the RSPCA do to registered breeders, imagine giving them the power to walk into your home just because you are a breeder, you won't even have to have a complaint made against you.

You can look forward to a world of non health tested DDs. As for the canine bodies not doing anything to stop it getting to this stage, disgusting, and I've told them so.

[sumosmum]

If everyone is so concerned about registered breeders being targetted, please tell me WHERE were your representatives?? Why did DOGS VIC not attend to promote and present registered breeders point of difference. Perhaps you should direct complaints to them for not being a part of what was a superb event.

I did 2 interviews for channel 7 and the ABC as well as my speech and the point was made about the difference between registered ethical breeders and puppy factories. Its not all cloak and dagger conspiracies and maybe if people actually got involved instead of complaining, responsible and effective change could be made more promptly.

Totally agree.

It was a great rally, and I think it did raise awareness of the issue. So sick of people who sit around complaining, and don't make any attempt to do anything.

Everyone who organised and took part in the day did a wonderful job.

Mackiemad, I also agree with your "happy enough to get into bed" comment.

ETA, Maybe they already have an assurance that they will be exempt from any new laws!

Edited September 19, 2010 by sumosmum

[Cosmolo]

I don't think some of you understand what the campaigners are fighting for. I don't see how ethical registered breeders will be unable to comply with any legislation.

I'm glad you have voiced your concerns to the canine bodies. I am heavily involved in the dog world and cannot tell you the last time i have seen any promotion (outside DOL) of pedigree dogs from registered breeders through the canine registering bodies. If i can't see it, the gernal public certainly can't.

[Are You Serious Jo]

Why not focus the campaign on enforcement of existing laws? We've all seen footage of dogs in battery cages, starving, needing vet care. There are already laws that allow legal action to be taken. More legislation isn't the answer because it has been shown time and time again that it only affects those who are doing the right thing, the others fly under the radar.

What if there is a mandatory code of practice that says dogs can only be bred on land larger than x square meters? There goes suburban breeders. What if they say you must not breed unless you have a kenneling facility x number of meters from the house and it must have x, y, z features, costing many thousands. There goes breeders who don't breed for profit. How is this stopping puppy farms that hide out in the country, as they do now? They'll still drop their puppies at the pet shops, which should actually experience an increase of puppy sales as many registered breeders walk away.

How do you protect yourself when the RSPCA have even more power when there are no checks and balances now.

Enforce existing laws and ban dogs and cats from pets shops.

[Cosmolo]

Those 2 things were what was being pushed at the rally today in addition to banning factory farming of dogs. Enforcement was talked about multiple times as well. I haven't seen anything about X amount of land required, kennelling facilities etc??

[Are You Serious Jo]

I haven't seen anything about X amount of land required, kennelling facilities etc??

You will. Docking gone, debarking on the way out, limitations on how you breed now, soon what breeds you can breed. The writing is on the wall, is is going exactly how people have predicted. Yet puppy farms still exist and are doing great business. The target are breeders, they don't care if they are ethical or not.

There are very few registered breeders who agree with new legislation, it's easy to say don't worry if you aren't the one going to be affected.

[Jed]

We all know of the person who had a government piece of paper the said they would not stop the docking of tail's in Queensland........Yeah right......

Been there done that.

Can you explain what you're talking about? 'Government piece of paper?'

And what it's got to do with reponses to that rally?

It has nothing to do with the rally, except before the anti docking legislaton was enacted, breeders were told that those who bred under the umbrella of a breed society, or bred "show" dogs would not be affected by the legislation

Rspca wanted to bring in the legislation to prevent backyard breeders chopping off tails with carving knives when pups were 3 months old - but not to make any changes to what registered breeders did.

As we know, that was incorrect. The main thrust of the legislation was registered breeders, the main people in line for prosecution were registered breeders, even though they banded in the neonatal period when no pain was felt.

Bogans are still chopping tails off 8 weeks + old puppies, with total impunity.

Please don't think I am dissing anyone's attendance at the rally. Puppy farms do need to be stopped.

I was answering Mita's question.

And for those of you sniping at breeders for not attending, where were you at BSL rallies? Where were your submissions in docking legislation? You wouldn't support those things because you didn't agree, so you can't expect breeders to support something they think will lead to the demise of registered breeders, and which they therefore disagree with.

[shortstep]

What happens if the average registered breeder who has a few litters, enjoys showing and carefully places their puppies, cannot comply with any new legislation? What if the new legislation is made to hard to comply with for those breeders who live in the suburbs. You have to put all the pieces together and think about ramifications. New laws are going to lead to a few big puppy farm operations that supply all our dogs. They will be making a killing so will be bale to pay a small amount to comply. How can a small exhibitor/breeder pay the same fees when they are already out of pocket so much because they do the right thing? We have already seen what the RSPCA do to registered breeders, imagine giving them the power to walk into your home just because you are a breeder, you won't even have to have a complaint made against you.

You can look forward to a world of non health tested DDs. As for the canine bodies not doing anything to stop it getting to this stage, disgusting, and I've told them so.

ANKC breeders are dropping like flies already. There are 30,000 a year fewer ANKC pups born today than 30 years ago! Yet the number of dogs being born is escalating every year. Estimated at over 1 million dogs born a year, of which only 60,000 are ANKC dogs. ANKC breeders are already a tiny minority in the world of dog breeding.

I think you are right, the only people who will breed dogs if things keep going the way they are now will be businesses. They will be highly regulated puppy mills that can afford to breed dogs under systems that make it difficult for those not cashed and lawyered up.

If they would put up a bill that just banned pet shop sales (yes include internet and other forms of advertizing if that seem right) and do not add on anything else to the bill. It would pass. This would wipe out most puppy farms or at least take away much of their sales.

At any rate, I remain optimistic. I am envisioning a future about 20 years from now. A secret underground network of (old fashion) dog breeders. They never sell their dogs. They breed very rarely, keeping the pup they want and place the others with trusted friends and other breed fanciers. Keeping a small gene pool going of selected lines of their breed going forward. When this happens, will you few remaining purebred dog owners let me know, I want in! LOL

Edited September 19, 2010 by shortstep

[oakway]

What happens if the average registered breeder who has a few litters, enjoys showing and carefully places their puppies, cannot comply with any new legislation? What if the new legislation is made to hard to comply with for those breeders who live in the suburbs. You have to put all the pieces together and think about ramifications. New laws are going to lead to a few big puppy farm operations that supply all our dogs. They will be making a killing so will be bale to pay a small amount to comply. How can a small exhibitor/breeder pay the same fees when they are already out of pocket so much because they do the right thing? We have already seen what the RSPCA do to registered breeders, imagine giving them the power to walk into your home just because you are a breeder, you won't even have to have a complaint made against you.

You can look forward to a world of non health tested DDs. As for the canine bodies not doing anything to stop it getting to this stage, disgusting, and I've told them so.

We will all go down the gurgler because of their stupidity.

Many of us live in other states, and why would we attend something that we believe will harm us.

We have complained about farms and complained bitterly.

Their are other people also working on the puppy farm situation not only you.

Don't any of you dare take a holier than thou attitude with those that work so hard to eradicate puppy farmers.

Never have any registered breeders said they don't support you in your efforts over puppy farms.

What we don't support is that we as breeders are being included in all and sundry.

Some of you have only scratched the surface, but some of us have dug deeper.

Some of us have been through things like this before and been caught and we don't intend to get caught again.

We can appreciate your feelings over puppy farms and will stand firm with you as our feelings are the same.

It is some of you that have no appreciation for the way registered breeders feel about us being included. And included we have been.

Have a thought for us as we can end up losing out big time.... Our dogs. Most registered breeders are the least of your worries.

If we go, where do you get healthy, home reared, health tested puppies from ?.

I am so angry that a group of people could cause me to lose the thing that I love...breeding a better dog than the litter before. Just because you have no foresight in the matter, and can't see that this will turned around and come back to bite us all.

[pip1981]

I'm still a little confused to be honest, but can I just say, that I'm sure, if any future proposed legislation threatened to adversely affect what I thought to be ethical, registered 'in the home' breeders of pure breed dogs, I would attend a rally against specific laws for that too! I'm sure most DOLers who attended yesterday would, being that most of us have happily sourced dogs this way.

I don't frown upon anyone who didn't attend, I'm just genuinely trying to understand how this will affect small-scale 'in the home' operations, I still don't get it....maybe I'm a bit slow...

As for those wanting to simply make sure that the current legislation is properly administered and not changed. This means puppy farming operations will still exist!! Even if facilities are clean, the 'right' size, within certain numbers, etc., do you really think any dog deserves this life, mostly spent in a pen, with no socialisation or family?? But, you and your dogs and breeding program will be safe...is that all the matters?