Hunter Groups Call For End To Puppy Farming

[DMA]

Hunter groups call for end to puppy farming

BY DAMON CRONSHAW

19 Sep, 2011 04:00 AM

HUNTER animal welfare groups have called for an end to puppy farming.

Welfare groups say thousands of dogs are being unnecessarily euthanised in the region every year.

The Society of Companion Animal Rescuers, an umbrella organisation for Hunter animal welfare groups, wants puppy farms and pet shop puppy sales banned.

Committee member Jim Sullivan said the number of dogs being euthanised at pounds appalled him.

‘‘We don’t need to breed any more puppies,’’ Mr Sullivan said.

‘‘Only registered and regulated breeders that meet standards should be allowed to operate.’’

Pet shops should only be allowed to sell rejected pets, he said.

Mistreatment and cruelty were rife in the industry and illegal puppy farms were widespread.

Many dogs suffered psychological and physical problems at puppy farms, including untreated diseases and illnesses, Mr Sullivan said.

Mr Sullivan said the O’Farrell government should introduce new regulations and create an independent body to tackle the problem.

The government has established a task force to investigate animal breeding practices and puppy farms, which Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell, a veterinarian, will chair.

‘‘The key aim is to reduce the euthanasia rate of animals in NSW,’’ Mr Cornwell said.

‘‘Breeding large animals in a confined space where they’re not getting adequate socialisation and medical care is unacceptable.’’

A government statement said 150,000 dogs and cats were euthanised in NSW pounds in the past five years, a figure animal welfare activists believe could be much higher.

Mr Sullivan said some task force members, including Mr Cornwell, had a conflict of interest.

‘‘The problem with the task force is that it is stacked in favour of people who profit from puppy sales and that includes vets,’’ he said.

But Mr Cornwell said the task force was ‘‘a balanced committee’’ with appropriate levels of expertise.

Animal welfare groups say more resources are needed to police the industry, with councils often reluctant to deal with the problem.

Mr Cornwell said ‘‘all options are on the table’’ for change.

He said ‘‘regulation, resources and education’’ were key issues and the problem involved complex social problems.

Disadvantaged areas had high pet euthanasia rates, he said.

******************************************

Source: Newcastle Herald

If you can leave a comment at the Herald, please feel free to do so

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Some progress at last hopefully.

[lilli_star]

This was on Seven (Sydney) news last night

[k9angel]

This was on Seven (Sydney) news last night

That puppy farmer they had on made me sick.

She was so arrogant. When the reporter says something to her about the dogs being a domesticated animal, her reply was something along the lines of "Yeah, so what. We are domesticated and we get sent to jail".

[sandgrubber]

I hope this group succeeds in the concrete efforts mentioned . . . better enforcements of anti-cruelty legislation and end to sales of puppies in pet shops. The 'end puppy farming' slogan remains a worry because it feeds into a moral crusade.

As a breeder, and pedigree dog enthusiast, I find it frightening that the second paragraph on the Oscars Law website reads:

"You can help fight the genocide in Australia's pounds, promote rescue organisations and shelters as the first option to adopting, and change the way Australians gets their pets. Adoption is the intelligent alternative to impulse buying. No puppy factory whether it is 'clean', 'model', 'state of the art' or otherwise is the answer for mans best friend."

I'm all for shelters, and do donate to them. I encourage adoption. But I view shelters as mopping up after failures in the system . . . not a desirable first option. It sounds to me like some faction of the group is against all dog breeding, ethical or not.

There is a third alternative to impulse buying and adoption from a shelter . . . good breeding, and planned dog ownership. Millions of families save to own their own places with a good back yard precisely because they want to have a dog. A large fraction of these want a pedigree dog of a specific breed and will shop around for the right breeder and wait months or years to get the pup they want.

I have nothing against mutts. But I don't want to live in a world where all pups born do so in a family home, often with no knowledge of the background of sire and dam and no health testing. I don't see why they can't start with pushing for the enforcement of existing laws and advocacy of clear cut objectives, like forbidding sales in puppy shops.

Even more frightening that the text for the supposed "Oscar's Law" isn't available for comment.

Edited September 19, 2011 by sandgrubber

[DMA]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

[WreckitWhippet]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

It's not illegal to breed dogs in your back yard, nor is it illegal to breed them in large numbers.

If people believe that dogs are being kept in sub standard conditions and that their health and well being is in jeopardy, then the appropriate people to complain to are the RSPCA and the local council.

from the website

D

ob In a Puppy Farmer!

One of the key reasons why there are so many

pups and kittens ending up in pounds is because

of dubious or illegal facilities which farm pups & kittens.

Closing down these facilities will ensure that a

significant reduction in pound numbers will be achieved and fewer of

the poor companion animals will end up unwanted

and on death row.

please send us via email any information you may have about

any puppy farms or back yard breeders in your region.

We will then investigate and bring to the attention of councils and

the RSPCA such facilities and push for prosecutions.

Send all your relevant information, including any photos

and just who is "Socares" and what "authority" do they have to "investigate" ? SoCares could well find themselves on the other end of a legal challenge.

ETA: and what will become of the ANKC registered breeders who get caught up in all of this ?

Edited September 19, 2011 by Pav Lova

[DMA]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

It's not illegal to breed dogs in your back yard, nor is it illegal to breed them in large numbers.

If people believe that dogs are being kept in sub standard conditions and that their health and well being is in jeopardy, then the appropriate people to complain to are the RSPCA and the local council.

from the website

D

ob In a Puppy Farmer!

One of the key reasons why there are so many

pups and kittens ending up in pounds is because

of dubious or illegal facilities which farm pups & kittens.

Closing down these facilities will ensure that a

significant reduction in pound numbers will be achieved and fewer of

the poor companion animals will end up unwanted

and on death row.

please send us via email any information you may have about

any puppy farms or back yard breeders in your region.

We will then investigate and bring to the attention of councils and

the RSPCA such facilities and push for prosecutions.

Send all your relevant information, including any photos

and just who is "Socares" and what "authority" do they have to "investigate" ? SoCares could well find themselves on the other end of a legal challenge.

ETA: and what will become of the ANKC registered breeders who get caught up in all of this ?

Actually we're the ones who issue legal challenges

[WreckitWhippet]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

It's not illegal to breed dogs in your back yard, nor is it illegal to breed them in large numbers.

If people believe that dogs are being kept in sub standard conditions and that their health and well being is in jeopardy, then the appropriate people to complain to are the RSPCA and the local council.

from the website

D

ob In a Puppy Farmer!

One of the key reasons why there are so many

pups and kittens ending up in pounds is because

of dubious or illegal facilities which farm pups & kittens.

Closing down these facilities will ensure that a

significant reduction in pound numbers will be achieved and fewer of

the poor companion animals will end up unwanted

and on death row.

please send us via email any information you may have about

any puppy farms or back yard breeders in your region.

We will then investigate and bring to the attention of councils and

the RSPCA such facilities and push for prosecutions.

Send all your relevant information, including any photos

and just who is "Socares" and what "authority" do they have to "investigate" ? SoCares could well find themselves on the other end of a legal challenge.

ETA: and what will become of the ANKC registered breeders who get caught up in all of this ?

Actually we're the ones who issue legal challenges

I'd like to know in what capacity and by what authority, the group " investigates" puppy farmers and back yard breeders, because it isn;t illegal to do either in NSW. Unless you do not have the appropriate council approval for your facility.

Did you know that the vast majority of ANKC breeders would be considered BYBer's ? and many do not have the facilities that are required to breed a dog according to the law ? Those of us who choose to breed in our homes, could well be caught up in this.

Remember you can't have it one way for the puppy farmers/ BYBers and the ANKC breeders.

Leave the detective work and the policing to those that have the authority, that being the RSPCA and the Councils.

[DMA]

I'd like to know in what capacity and by what authority, the group " investigates" puppy farmers and back yard breeders, because it isn;t illegal to do either in NSW. Unless you do not have the appropriate council approval for your facility

I refuse to state in a public forum any such information, especially to a stranger who has clearly launched such an agressive approach.

Did you know that the vast majority of ANKC breeders would be considered BYBer's ? and many do not have the facilities that are required to breed a dog according to the law ? Those of us who choose to breed in our homes, could well be caught up in this.

Please read the article, written by the Heard, where senior committee member Jim Sullivan states our position. If you are a registured breeder you have nothing to fear. If your dogs are well looked after, & catered for, you have nothing to fear.

Remember you can't have it one way for the puppy farmers/ BYBers and the ANKC breeders.

That is your opnion.

Leave the detective work and the policing to those that have the authority, that being the RSPCA and the Councils.

If you don't mind, please leave your ignorant comments to yourself. Only someone who has never reported a backyard breeder to either body would say something like that.

Now I've got to run to Singleton pound, pick up a sweet staffy x who is due for euthinasia today, drop him off to a rescue foster carer, then go to our lawyers in Newcastle, pick up a summons, & then serve Cessnock City Council with it. Busy day... this is what we do BTW

[WreckitWhippet]

Actually, you cannot have it one way for puppy farmers and BYBer's. The laws that exist regarding the keeping of dogs, are across the board and the ANKC registered breeders cannot be treated any differently, they are bound by exaclty the same legislation as everyone else.

The groups not prepared to disclose who they are and what they do, that's a bit of a joke isn't it, considering they claim to "investigate" puppy farmers and BYBer's, without authority to do so.

Perhaps they are another bunch of animal activists ?

[Steve]

The people on the telly last night either still are or were until recently Dogs NSW Registered breeders.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Steve

[Steve]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

So what do you do with this information?

[BJean]

I know of at least four large scale breeders who have preempted or reacted to

breaches on their property

with purchases of large guard dogs.

I know one day I'm going to open the paper and its not going to be good.

word out to any earnest investigators:

if you see a central asian or anatolian/kangal it will attack

please don't breach its territory.

Treats won't work.

[DMA]

Actually, you cannot have it one way for puppy farmers and BYBer's. The laws that exist regarding the keeping of dogs, are across the board and the ANKC registered breeders cannot be treated any differently, they are bound by exaclty the same legislation as everyone else.

This is a very simplistic view of a rather complicated matter. What you fail to mention is that one group are registered, inspected & governed to a standard, by a recognised body, whilst the others are a law unto themselves with often little regard to the welfare of the animals in question (maybe you should read this Herald article about the notorious Kindee Kennels - http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/animals-in-stinking-cages/2295568.aspx). This is a prime example of what we deal with most days of the week. They are not an isolated incident. So don't muddy the waters by trying to confuse the situation, by bringing in lawfully abiding registured breeders, when people like Kindee Kennels carry on in the manner they do. Here's one of the photos Jim Sullivan (SoCares Committee Member) took whilst on the Kindee Kennels raid:

Hosted by The Newcastle Herald

The groups not prepared to disclose who they are and what they do, that's a bit of a joke isn't it, considering they claim to "investigate" puppy farmers and BYBer's, without authority to do so.

And you have no authority to order us to do otherwise. Be rest assured, though, everything we do is examined beforehand by one of three law firms, before anything further is done. We then involve the RSPCA (who we co-operate with on a daily basis) as well as local government authority(s). Needless to say there is a lot more law involved than you may realise. It isn't only about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It also involves zoning laws as well as Development Applications as governed by the Local Government & other sundry Acts. Then there is also business laws, ranging from something as unfamiliar as the NSW Business Names Act to people not declaring their income, from the sale of animals, to the ATO.

Perhaps they are another bunch of animal activists ?

And maybe you're just another puppy farmer which the RSPCA & your local council needs to investigate ;)

Now I must seriously run... I've got a Council to sue amongst other things...

[Steve]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

Define Puppy Farmer? Define back yard breeder?

[toy*dog]

As a breeder, and pedigree dog enthusiast, I find it frightening that the second paragraph on the Oscars Law website reads:

"You can help fight the genocide in Australia's pounds, promote rescue organisations and shelters as the first option to adopting, and change the way Australians gets their pets. Adoption is the intelligent alternative to impulse buying. No puppy factory whether it is 'clean', 'model', 'state of the art' or otherwise is the answer for mans best friend."

they also say this on the FAQ page:

What is the difference between a registered breeder and a puppy factory (and how will I know)?

A registered breeder is registered with the Australian National Kennel Council and must meet certain requirements. A breeder will usually specialise in one breed and is also likely to be involved in showing that breed.

A puppy factory will not be registered with the ANKC. Many claim to be registered, but they are just a ‘registered’ business! The ANKC only registers ‘pure breed’ dog breeders. All designer dogs are cross breeds.

A breeder will be happy for you to visit them to meet the parents and the pups at their own premises, in fact most will insist. Puppy factories will not. If puppy factories who meet the legal requirements of minimum standards of care will not let you see their breeding facilities - they know that you will be horrified.

A breeder will know about their breed, they will be happy to answer your questions and are very likely to have plenty of their own. If you are suspicious, go home and do some research.

ETA; there are quite a few reg breeders that quite happily follow oscars law and were even at the rally. just saying....

Edited September 19, 2011 by toy*dog

[toy*dog]

We have actually set up a Dob In A Puppy Farmer campaign at our SoCares Support Group website.

If anyone knows of a puppy farmer or back yard breeder, especially in the Hunter Valley & Central Coast regions, by all means email us the details.

Please follow this link: http://www.supportgroup.socares.com.au

Define Puppy Farmer? Define back yard breeder?

a reg ANKC breeder got into trouble by being dobbed in by a person that came to their property to purchase a pup.

[WreckitWhippet]

DMA

What you fail to mention is that one group are registered, inspected & governed to a standard, by a recognised body,

I'm a member of one such recognised body and I can tell you now, we have never been inspected. The ANKC would have no idea what conditions my dogs are kept in, let alone govern them to a " standard" or enforce them.

There are no exemptions for me to breed and raise my dogs in the loungeroom and under the law, I should actually be raising them out in Council DA approved kennels, just like the puppy farmers.

Please define what a Back Yard Breeder and a Puppy farmer is ?

Edited September 19, 2011 by Pav Lova

[Steve]

How disappointing - just when you almost had me you show yourself to be just another group of animal rights fanatics who have gone off half cocked . Better get better educated before you start talking out loud.