Qld Asked To Ban Dog And Cat Sales.

[neorotic]

Lets hope this comes through!

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/queensla...0914-15ama.html

Queensland asked to ban dog, cat sales September 14, 2010 - 5:08P

Bonnie a Shihtzu cross breed, saved by Doggie Rescue in Sydney. Photo: Peter Rae

The Queensland government has been asked to ban pet shops from selling cats and dogs.

A petition tabled in state parliament today and signed by 2597 people outlined what it called the "cruel practice" of selling cats and dogs in pet shops.

Abandoned: man's best friend

It says unwanted pets were often put down after spur-of-the-moment purchases and Queensland should follow the lead of other countries that had banned pet shops from selling cats and dogs.

"Animals are often purchased by ill-informed people who later discard their pet when they realise that pet ownership is not as easy or cheap as they thought," the petition says.

"Your petitioners request the House to ban all pet shops from selling cats and dogs."

In 2008, the government introduced a code of conduct designed to lower the numbers of unloved pets.

The code encouraged pet shops to ensure animals went only to suitable homes.

Under it, prospective owners were to be talked through the responsibilities of pet ownership and whether a pet matched that person's lifestyle.

It was also aimed at ensuring all cats and dogs were microchipped and desexed before they reached breeding age.

AAP

[poodlefan]

[Souff]

Here we go again .... ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops ..... but leave them to be sold to the same impulse buyers at flea markets, car boot sales, farmers markets, etc .......

[Boronia]

Here we go again .... ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops ..... but leave them to be sold to the same impulse buyers at flea markets, car boot sales, farmers markets, etc .......

don't forget outside our local shopping centre as well....husky x Great Dane pups :D

[shortstep]

Neurotic,

Can you post the bill as it is written, or give a link to the Bill, so we can read the fine print.

Last time I heard about this bill (if it is the same QLD bill) it also banned the selling of all non ANKC registered dogs, and if it is that same bill it also called for desexing of all dogs not owned by a registered breeder.

Perhaps these parts were dropped off, or pehapns this a different bill all together?

But I would sure like to read the bill before I came to any conculsions.

[Caesars mum]

link

this is the only petition I know of ATM

[Skitch]

Here we go again .... ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops ..... but leave them to be sold to the same impulse buyers at flea markets, car boot sales, farmers markets, etc .......

don't forget outside our local shopping centre as well....husky x Great Dane pups

Agree 100%. Banning pet shop sales is part of the solution but it sure as hell isn't all of it..

[mita]

Here we go again .... ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops ..... but leave them to be sold to the same impulse buyers at flea markets, car boot sales, farmers markets, etc .......

don't forget outside our local shopping centre as well....husky x Great Dane pups

Also puppy farmers sell puppies from suburban houses as if they're 'home produced', without it being revealed where they actually come from.

Then there's via the internet, with websites full of spin that mask fact it's a puppy farmer.

On the bright side, in recent times, any proposed new legislation re domestic pets in Q'ld has been shaped via a widely-representative working party.

That was how pet greyhounds got a fairer deal in law. One of our DOLers, who represented GAP, worked for & got that.

So I'd be hoping that a similar working party would sort the details & bring knowledge and experience re all the lurks and quirks.

Registered breeders are in a strong position in this state because of the highly positive results from a uni study concerning the socialisation of their puppies & their being far less likely to produce unwanted litters. (Just heard on ABC Radio that the Qld government has accepted an appeal from Dogs Q'ld that Amstaffs should not be labelled a banned breed.)

Last February, RSPCA Qld advised the general public to go directly to good breeders and/or to ethical rescues including their shelters, to get pet puppies & dogs. That cuts out the dreaded puppy farmers and introduces screening/matching of new owners.

So I'm hoping for a best case scenario, if concern about sale of puppies gets to a working party stage.

Edited September 16, 2010 by mita

[shortstep]

The petition states (edited to state petition removed bill)

2. Encourage responsible and reputable breeding and supply of companion animals by:

(a) developing a Breeders Code of Practice, and enact as mandatory legislation;

(b) introducing a compulsory licensing and regular monitoring of all companion animal breeding operations.

Yes this is the bill. I believe there is also a rather extensive list of demands that describe what laws need to be written on the regulation of all breeders in the state and who can breed.

I oppose this legislation.

It is the NSW Clover Moore Bill all over again.

FUNNY HOW THE PET SHOP BANS NEVER MENTION WHAT THE REST OF THE BILL WILL DO!

Same old same old. Come on, just cut to the chase Neurotic and just ask to ban the owning of dogs and be done with it eh?

Why do you mess around trying to fool people. Slipping in massive legislation to regulate all dog breeding. Limiting who can can breed and even what kind of dogs can be bred. Generally making it look like anyone breeding a litter has a high potential to be a criminal that needs intense supervision and inspection. Always tacked on to bills said to be about some other more heart felt issues such as pet shop puppies in hope of slipping it by without notice.

A nasty piece of work if you ask me. Makes me very sad that you use pet shop puppies this way.

So can we change the heading to say what this really is.

Massive legistation of dog breeders pending in QLD, promoted as only effecting puppy sales in pet shops.

Edited September 17, 2010 by shortstep

[mita]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted newspaper article refers to a petition. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Edited September 16, 2010 by mita

[shortstep]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted article refers to a petition.. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Yep, just like the Clover bill. I believe Dogs NSW approved of the Clover bill at first too, only later reading the fine print.

So this is part of what I have been told is going to be part of the QLD legislation (this has been in the works for at least 3 years, so the petition is likely just a publicity stunt to get the public primed to help pass the bill).

Only ANKC registered breeders will be allowed to own intact dogs and breed dogs. Meaning that only ANKC breeders can breed ANKC dogs in the state.

It also mandates all pups must be desexed (yes the ANKC pups too) unless they are owned by a licensed kennel operation (translation ANKC registered breeder with the permit to breed in QLD), they are looking at the best time for the desexing now, most feel it will say 6 months.

All breeders will have to be licensed in their shire, meet the state regulations, be permitted as an approved breeding operation kennel and have regular and surprise inspections of their home, which will be considered the 'breeding operation kennel', even if you only want to breed one litter.

Something like the 40 page breeders act in NSW, which will be used when ANKC homes, I mean licensed breeding operations are raided by the RSPCA with the TV crew.

On and on it goes. If you want to run dog breeders out of dog breeding in QLD this is the way to do it.

Part 3 of PETA's grand plan if you ask me. BTW when are they opening their office in Australia? The Australian membership must be so happy to have a local branch.

Edited September 17, 2010 by shortstep

[mita]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted article refers to a petition.. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Yep, just like the Clover bill. I believe Dogs NSW approved of the Clover bill at first too, only later reading the fine print.

So this is part of what I have been told is going to be part of the QLD legislation (this has been in the works for at least 3 years, so the petition is likely just a publicity stunt to get the public primed to help pass the bill).

This is Qld, not Clover 's NSW. There's clear evidence, and examples, of different attitudes by people in various organisations here. And there's scientific evidence that what the good registered Qld breeders already do, is fine in preventing dog dumping & in producing true companion pets. PETA, if you believe it's an influence, has NO scientific evidence to the contrary. We actually have an RSPCA which advises the public to go directly to the good breeders (as well as to the good rescues). They've got better things to do than raid good registered breeders. An infamous raid on one in a southern state, would never have happened here.

Also RSPCA will be sharing a campus with the university of qld vet school & they'll be working in together. Where there'll be no room for ratbag extremism. Any proposed legislation would be drafted under the direction of the Minister, with no representative from any extreme group. And their drafting work would be done in a transparent, open way. As it's already been done, with the new laws about keeping domestic dogs.

I don't mean to be rude to you, because I understand fully your concerns & your call for vigilance, but there are proactive moves in this state. There's already been a Pilot Project (funded by the Qld government) in the Gold Coast region, where all groups (including Dogs Qld) were represented & a licensing system established. The sky hasn't fallen in on top of registered breeders there, nor prevented them from doing their jobs.

Edited September 17, 2010 by mita

[shortstep]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted article refers to a petition.. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Yep, just like the Clover bill. I believe Dogs NSW approved of the Clover bill at first too, only later reading the fine print.

So this is part of what I have been told is going to be part of the QLD legislation (this has been in the works for at least 3 years, so the petition is likely just a publicity stunt to get the public primed to help pass the bill).

This is Qld, not Clover 's NSW. There's clear evidence, and examples, of different attitudes by people in various organisations here. And there's scientific evidence that what the good registered Qld breeders already do, is fine in preventing dog dumping & in producing true companion pets. PETA, if you believe it's an influence, has NO scientific evidence to the contrary. We actually have an RSPCA which advises the public to go directly to the good breeders (as well as to the good rescues). They've got better things to do than raid good registered breeders. An infamous raid on one in a southern state, would never have happened here.

Also RSPCA will be sharing a campus with the university of qld vet school & they'll be working in together. Where there'll be no room for ratbag extremism. Any proposed legislation would be drafted under the direction of the Minister, with no representative from any extreme group. And their drafting work would be done in a transparent, open way. As it's already been done, with the new laws about keeping domestic dogs.

I don't mean to be rude to you, because I understand fully your concerns & your call for vigilance, but there are proactive moves in this state. There's already been a Pilot Project (funded by the Qld government) in the Gold Coast region, where all groups (including Dogs Qld) were represented & a licensing system established. The sky hasn't fallen in on top of registered breeders there, nor prevented them from doing their jobs.

Since you are so sure this is the way to go for all breeders in QLD, than you must be a breeder and are now licensed and breeding under this new method in QLD?

Can you tell us about the process, how much did it cost, what limits are on you, how often will you be inspected, can you show us the rules you have to work under, how much is the fine if you fail to meet these new laws, jail time mentioned, how many pups have bred so far, howe about non ANKC prefix holders, can they have a desexed dogs, can anyone keep an intact dog?

Can you also tell me how the farmer with his working sheepdogs will be treated under this grand plan? His dogs will not be registered in the ANKC. What input did the farmers have in building this big legal system to breed dogs? Was the WKC involved? Was AWBCR invovled?

Will ANKC be sharing this office with the RSPCA and the UNI in QLD, as there is already joint RSPCA Uni Vets, working together in Sydney and it is not there to help ANKC breeders, in fact the work is to show #s of inherited diseases in ANKC dogs I believe. So you are saying that QLD Uni system is directly opposed to the Sydney Uni system which is attacking purebred dog breeders? Can you show me any of their resaerch that defends ANKC breeders, anything that shows opposition to the Sydney research? Did they or the RSPCA actually say to buy ANKC dogs or just words like a reputable/good breeder (which could mean anything, like going to a pound Kollie crossed to a kelpie breeder or an oddle breeder).

[Are You Serious Jo]

The reason you won't see a repeat of the case we saw in Vic in QLD is because it is impossible to get the RSPCA there to do inspections in the first place

Having had over 20 years of dealing with RSPCA QLD I can't say I am optimistic that they are going to go against RSPCA head office and the other states and protect breeders. We've already seen how collaboration with unis has played out in other states, it has afforded no protection to registered breeders. In fact, the opposite has happened. Sorry to those breeders who live in QLD

[mita]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted article refers to a petition.. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Yep, just like the Clover bill. I believe Dogs NSW approved of the Clover bill at first too, only later reading the fine print.

So this is part of what I have been told is going to be part of the QLD legislation (this has been in the works for at least 3 years, so the petition is likely just a publicity stunt to get the public primed to help pass the bill).

This is Qld, not Clover 's NSW. There's clear evidence, and examples, of different attitudes by people in various organisations here. And there's scientific evidence that what the good registered Qld breeders already do, is fine in preventing dog dumping & in producing true companion pets. PETA, if you believe it's an influence, has NO scientific evidence to the contrary. We actually have an RSPCA which advises the public to go directly to the good breeders (as well as to the good rescues). They've got better things to do than raid good registered breeders. An infamous raid on one in a southern state, would never have happened here.

Also RSPCA will be sharing a campus with the university of qld vet school & they'll be working in together. Where there'll be no room for ratbag extremism. Any proposed legislation would be drafted under the direction of the Minister, with no representative from any extreme group. And their drafting work would be done in a transparent, open way. As it's already been done, with the new laws about keeping domestic dogs.

I don't mean to be rude to you, because I understand fully your concerns & your call for vigilance, but there are proactive moves in this state. There's already been a Pilot Project (funded by the Qld government) in the Gold Coast region, where all groups (including Dogs Qld) were represented & a licensing system established. The sky hasn't fallen in on top of registered breeders there, nor prevented them from doing their jobs.

Since you are so sure this is the way to go for all breeders in QLD, than you must be a breeder and are now licensed and breeding under this new method in QLD?

Can you tell us about the process, how much did it cost, what limits are on you, how often will you be inspected, can you show us the rules you have to work under, how much is the fine if you fail to meet these new laws, jail time mentioned, how many pups have bred so far, howe about non ANKC prefix holders, can they have a desexed dogs, can anyone keep an intact dog?

Can you also tell me how the farmer with his working sheepdogs will be treated under this grand plan? His dogs will not be registered in the ANKC. What input did the farmers have in building this big legal system to breed dogs? Was the WKC involved? Was AWBCR invovled?

Will ANKC be sharing this office with the RSPCA and the UNI in QLD, as there is already joint RSPCA Uni Vets, working together in Sydney and it is not there to help ANKC breeders, in fact the work is to show #s of inherited diseases in ANKC dogs I believe. So you are saying that QLD Uni system is directly opposed to the Sydney Uni system which is attacking purebred dog breeders? Can you show me any of their resaerch that defends ANKC breeders, anything that shows opposition to the Sydney research? Did they or the RSPCA actually say to buy ANKC dogs or just words like a reputable/good breeder (which could mean anything, like going to a pound Kollie crossed to a kelpie breeder or an oddle breeder).

First, back up. You sound emotional & are running things together. What 'grand plan' are you talking about? There's been no bill drafted...only a petition, which is someone's creative writing, signed by a couple of thousand people & brought to the attention of Parliament (as is done with petitions, via a Member). There's no direct connection to any representative working party set by the Minister to draft any new legislation. IF this should be done, it would be worked on by representatives of various organisations, including Dogs Qld . Usually submissions from interested parties are also called for.

You also say I'm 'so sure this is the way to go for all breeders'. What way are you talking about? I've simply pointed out that a petition is not a draft bill and that there are processes which go into the preparation of any bill.

You're a literate adult, you can go find full answers to your own questions.

Yes, there is U of Q research findings that support what registered breeders are doing re socialising puppies & keeping track of litters produced, in Qld. I've posted the reference to it on a number of occasions. Go look.

The U of Q is independent of the U of Sydney. Has totally different research programs & interests. You project a great deal from NSW on to Q'ld.

Why would the ANKC be sharing an 'office' with the RSPCA & U of Q? A section of UQ vet school is co-locating with the RSPCA on their Wacol campus. By the way, the Cattle Dog Club & Kelpie Club of Qld presented a UQ team with a plaque of appreciation for 'commitment, patience & dedication to their breeds'.

The pilot project for licensing is on the Gold Coast (& is confined only to that council area). Go look for the details on the AWL Qld website. They chaired the working party. Phone them if you want any extra details.

The RSPCA Qld has told people, if they want a pure-bred animal, to 'visit a Canine Control Council'-registered breeder only...) From their Imprint article 'How much is that dog in the window?' which I give to people to let them know what can lie behind shop windows.

Edited September 17, 2010 by mita

[shortstep]

The reason you won't see a repeat of the case we saw in Vic in QLD is because it is impossible to get the RSPCA there to do inspections in the first place

Having had over 20 years of dealing with RSPCA QLD I can't say I am optimistic that they are going to go against RSPCA head office and the other states and protect breeders. We've already seen how collaboration with unis has played out in other states, it has afforded no protection to registered breeders. In fact, the opposite has happened. Sorry to those breeders who live in QLD

Thanks for the reality check!

Lets not forget it was the Unis of Australia that worked with the RSPCA in the UK that started the attack on purebred dogs.

Edited September 17, 2010 by shortstep

[shortstep]

The bill states

What bill? The OP-quoted article refers to a petition.. A petition can set out what the petitioners would like a bill to say, but it's their creative writing. It'd become a proposed bill only if a draft is prepared under the direction of the relevant Minister. And Qld , in recent times, has set up a representative working party to do that. It's included Dogs Qld.

Yep, just like the Clover bill. I believe Dogs NSW approved of the Clover bill at first too, only later reading the fine print.

So this is part of what I have been told is going to be part of the QLD legislation (this has been in the works for at least 3 years, so the petition is likely just a publicity stunt to get the public primed to help pass the bill).

This is Qld, not Clover 's NSW. There's clear evidence, and examples, of different attitudes by people in various organisations here. And there's scientific evidence that what the good registered Qld breeders already do, is fine in preventing dog dumping & in producing true companion pets. PETA, if you believe it's an influence, has NO scientific evidence to the contrary. We actually have an RSPCA which advises the public to go directly to the good breeders (as well as to the good rescues). They've got better things to do than raid good registered breeders. An infamous raid on one in a southern state, would never have happened here.

Also RSPCA will be sharing a campus with the university of qld vet school & they'll be working in together. Where there'll be no room for ratbag extremism. Any proposed legislation would be drafted under the direction of the Minister, with no representative from any extreme group. And their drafting work would be done in a transparent, open way. As it's already been done, with the new laws about keeping domestic dogs.

I don't mean to be rude to you, because I understand fully your concerns & your call for vigilance, but there are proactive moves in this state. There's already been a Pilot Project (funded by the Qld government) in the Gold Coast region, where all groups (including Dogs Qld) were represented & a licensing system established. The sky hasn't fallen in on top of registered breeders there, nor prevented them from doing their jobs.

Since you are so sure this is the way to go for all breeders in QLD, than you must be a breeder and are now licensed and breeding under this new method in QLD?

Can you tell us about the process, how much did it cost, what limits are on you, how often will you be inspected, can you show us the rules you have to work under, how much is the fine if you fail to meet these new laws, jail time mentioned, how many pups have bred so far, howe about non ANKC prefix holders, can they have a desexed dogs, can anyone keep an intact dog?

Can you also tell me how the farmer with his working sheepdogs will be treated under this grand plan? His dogs will not be registered in the ANKC. What input did the farmers have in building this big legal system to breed dogs? Was the WKC involved? Was AWBCR invovled?

Will ANKC be sharing this office with the RSPCA and the UNI in QLD, as there is already joint RSPCA Uni Vets, working together in Sydney and it is not there to help ANKC breeders, in fact the work is to show #s of inherited diseases in ANKC dogs I believe. So you are saying that QLD Uni system is directly opposed to the Sydney Uni system which is attacking purebred dog breeders? Can you show me any of their resaerch that defends ANKC breeders, anything that shows opposition to the Sydney research? Did they or the RSPCA actually say to buy ANKC dogs or just words like a reputable/good breeder (which could mean anything, like going to a pound Kollie crossed to a kelpie breeder or an oddle breeder).

First, back up. You sound emotional & are running things together. What 'grand plan' are you talking about? There's been no bill drafted...only a petition, which is someone's creative writing, signed by a couple of thousand people & brought to the attention of Parliament (as is done with petitions, via a Member). There's no direct connection to any representative working party set by the Minister to draft any new legislation. IF this should be done, it would be worked on by representatives of various organisations, including Dogs Qld . Usually submissions from interested parties are also called for.

You also say I'm 'so sure this is the way to for all breeders'. What way are you talking about? I've pointed out that a petition is not a draft bill and that there are processes which go into the preparation of any bill. I didn't even say the petition would necessarily lead to a bill...

You're a literate adult, you can go find full answers to your own questions.

Yes, there is U of Q research findings that support what registered breeders are doing re socialising puppies & keeping track of litters produced, in Qld. I've posted the reference to it on a number of occasions. Go look.

The U of Q is independent of the U of Sydney. Has totally different research pograms & interests. You project a great deal from NSW on to Q'ld.

Why would the ANKC be sharing an 'office' with the RSPCA & U of Q? A section of UQ vet school is co-locating with the RSPCA on their Wacol campus. By the way, the Cattle Dog Club & Kelpie Club of Qld presented a UQ team with a plaque of appreciation for 'commitment, patience & dedication to their breeds'.

The pilot project for licensing is on the Gold Coast (& is confined only to that council area). Go look for the details on the AWL Qld website. They chaired the working party. Phone them if you want any extra details.

The RSPCA has told people, if they want a pure-bred animal, to 'visit a Canine Control Council'-registered breeder only...) From their Imprint article 'How much is that dog in the window?' which I give to people to let them know what can lie behind shop windows.

No this came up before, a few years ago, and it was shelved at that time.

So are you going to show some Uni research that defends purebred dogs?

No I am not talking about the small population of show kelpies in ANKC, I am talking about the huge population of working keplies that work on every station in QLD that are in the WKC registry. How does the Goldcoast law affect their breeders?

BTW you have a short nosed breed, did you see the latest welfare issue reserch o that topic? Of course we knew they would take direct aim at short nosed breeders.

Now they are looking for how the shifted parts of the brain could be/is causing distress to the dogs.

I sure hope the next step is not banning the breeding of all short nosed breeds. Good thing with QLD if this law gets put in place for the welfare of short nosed distressed dogs however. All the short nosed breeders will be registered with the governement so they will know exatly who you are and where you live and can come inspect the lenght of your puppies noses eh? Good luck!

Edited September 17, 2010 by shortstep

[mita]

I sure hope the next step is not banning the breeding of all short nosed breeds. Good thing with QLD if this law gets put in place for the welfare of short nosed distressed dogs however. All the short nosed breeders will be registered with the governement so they will know exatly who you are and where you live and can come inspect the lenght of your puppies noses eh? Good luck!

The luck's already in. No paranoia here...

[Wags]

Banning the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops is at least a start and will help to make a dent in the demand for cheap 'cuties' for pet shops to make a huge profit on, thereby, hopefully reducing the number of poor souls that come into the world for this purpose. There is the problem though of private sale taking the place of pet shops, as you say.

Perhaps making it illegal for unlicensed (unregistered, and in Qld's case, un-accredited breeders) to sell kittens or puppies, or even undesexed kittens or puppies would help to resolve the problem.

Unfortunately, the demand for cheap puppies/kittens and the trend of promoting 'oodles' as the in thing has blown everything out of proportion. The natural attrition that used to occur in part-bred puppies/kittens has been blown out the window by the desire to pump puppies out Woolworths style with the least possible outlay in order to be able to sell to the middle man in bulk which is the only way they can possibly make any money at all.

I was once approached by a pet shop for puppies, and resisting the urge to spit in her eye, I asked her how much she would pay - $140 per puppy was the response. I looked at her cages with all the dogs selling at around $1,000, and thought, 'no wonder you have the hide to ask'. I then took pleasure in telling her I wouldn't let one of my kids go to her in a fit.

[Jed]

I wont be signing or supporting this petition.

They wont stick to banning the sale of pups in pet shops, I believe, because they want to prevent registered breeders breeding.

What's in this for registered breeders - and their dogs?

developing a Breeders Code of Practice, and enact as mandatory legislation;

introducing a compulsory licensing and regular monitoring of all companion animal breeding operations.

Nothing except regulations which refer to and are relevant only to businesses making profits. Additionally, "compulsory licensing" and "regular monitoring" means more and more expense - for a hobby. Not to mention intrusive and expensive inspections of breeders homes.

ANKC breeders already have a breeders code of practice, which seems to work quite well.

Since I joined this board, 80% of the breeders who were on here, who were an amazing source of information and resources have stopped breeding, and have left this board. Most of them stopped breeding because of numpty regulations and costs.

80% is quite a lot of breeders, and it is the knowledge which is the greatest loss. New people do enter the hobby, but it takes years and years to acquire knowledge.

Mita, UQ has no hope of holding out against Gov regulation. A lot of the vet students are pro animal rights, so there wont be any help for breeders from there.

Edited September 21, 2010 by Jed