Pet Industry Setting The Rules For Puppy Farms

[samoyedman]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/pet-industry-settings-the-rule-over-puppt-farms/story-e6freuzi-1226289900245

DODGY puppy farms could be stamped out under an ambitious plan by the pet industry to save thousands of strays from being put down.

Pet shop members of the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) will only sell puppies from accredited breeders and guarantee to re-home any lost, abandoned or surrendered dogs.

PIAA chief executive Roger Perkins and president Steve Austin said the "Dogs Lifetime Guarantee Policy on Traceability and Re-homing" would engender public confidence in accredited pet shops.

Parts of the retail pet trade have been under pressure in recent years for an alleged association with puppy farms and attempts by animal welfare groups and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore to ban the sale of cats and dogs in shops.

"Dogs and puppies sold in our stores will only be from PIAA-approved breeders who care for their dogs," Mr Perkins said.

"The policy also guarantees that no dog sold from a PIAA member pet shop will ever be put down because it is unwanted. We will pick up unwanted dogs, care for them, and re-home them."

In NSW the association will pay the RSPCA to re-home dumped or lost dogs originally sold through its shops.

But Mr Perkins said the PIAA would absorb the cost and there was no need for individual retailers to mark up the price of new puppies.

It is also working with the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders (AAPDB) on the accreditation program that will introduce an annual audit of PIAA-approved breeders by an independent veterinarian.

AAPDB president Kate Schoeffel said ethical breeders welcomed the move.

But Animal Liberation spokeswoman Jacqueline Dalziell described the new policy, effective from October 1 and to be announced in Sydney today, as little more than a "smoke screen" to distance pet shops from puppy farms.

She said the puppy farms would continue to operate anyway because so many dogs were sold privately through classified ads or online.

"I'm concerned that if a dog is found to be a PIAA dog and it is suitable for re-homing will it stay in a pound indefinitely?" she said.

Edited March 5, 2012 by samoyedman

[WreckitWhippet]

Ummm yeah, pots, kettles, black....... anyone

[Salukifan]

Pet shop members of the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) will only sell puppies from accredited breeders and guarantee to re-home any lost, abandoned or surrendered dogs.

Accredited by the PIAA no doubt. ;)

It is also working with the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders (AAPDB) on the accreditation program that will introduce an annual audit of PIAA-approved breeders by an independent veterinarian.

One of Australia's largest puppy farms was run by a vet. The AAPDB president is a vet. How will one vet visit every breeder every year???

All I can say is the "don't buy a puppy from a pet shop" message must be starting to work. :) I smell spin.

Edited March 5, 2012 by Telida Whippets

[redangel]

Saw Dr Harry on ch 7 Sunrise touting this new scheme. No link for the story yet, most likely later today.

[Leema]

If this goes to plan - if breeders are going to be inspected yearly, and if their shelter plan is implemented and effective... Then the ANKC has a long way to go to keep up.

[Crisovar]

An audit doesn't necessarily mean an onsite inspection it could all be on paper or dogs popped into the vet for a health check

[redangel]

Havent vets in the past been associated with puppy farms????

[Guest Arcane]

"""" Dogs and puppies sold in our stores will only be from PIAA-approved breeders who care for their dogs," Mr Perkins said."""

Yet again the PIAA expose themselves as supporters of puppy farming....PIAA approved puppy farms. Whether a puppy farm/factory is 'approved' or not, it is still large scale intensive breeding of companion animals for profit

[dog_fan]

"""" Dogs and puppies sold in our stores will only be from PIAA-approved breeders who care for their dogs," Mr Perkins said."""

Yet again the PIAA expose themselves as supporters of puppy farming....PIAA approved puppy farms. Whether a puppy farm/factory is 'approved' or not, it is still large scale intensive breeding of companion animals for profit

Regardless of what people call them, if the animals are being cared for according to legal standards then they are not a puppy farm.

[mita]

it is still large scale intensive breeding of companion animals for profit

Yes, the devil is in the details. And the only detail in the PIAA quote is that the pet shops will only buy from breeders who 'care for their dogs'.

Yes, there are farmers who 'care for' their cows, pigs and cabbages....but they don't develop them to be companion animals as dogs need to be. Has anyone from PIAA read the extensive research on dog behaviour, in general, and on human-dog relationships, in particular?

If they had, I'd expect to see what passes for 'care' by breeders to be far more extensive that clean premises, food and veterinary attention.

(That's how lab rats are raised.)

The critical component in 'care' of puppies & dogs as companion animals, is socialisation. The research shows that it's registered breeders who are more likely to do this, rather than unregistered breeders. And these breeders, who have a closeness with their puppies and dogs, are far less likely to hand them over to a commercial pet store, where the pups are sold to the first person who turns up with money. With no screening for suitable match for both welfare and suitability.

So that quote alone does not hold up....a breeder who cares for their dogs by providing the appropriate care, is not likely to hand their puppies over to a pet store to be sold to god knows who. And to know nothing of their future.

By contrast, years after adopting purebred dogs from a registered breeder, she still asks me how 'her girls' are going. And I love it. It's why I own beautifully socialised dogs who came to me like that.

Edited March 6, 2012 by mita

[dog_fan]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

[mita]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

There's a Trade Practices Act which would not allow an association such as the ANKC to enforce a ban. So it's not a case of the ANKC 'allowing' registered breeders to sell puppies in a pet shop or not.

But it does not contravene that Act to have recommended guidelines on homing puppies & dogs, in terms of screening for suitability, providing follow-up advice & support etc. As many registered breeders, who provide appropriate care for their puppies & dogs, do.

And, as far as I know, such a relationship between breeder & potential puppy owner is urged, ethically.

Edited March 6, 2012 by mita

[pandypam]

Here is a pic of the President of the PIAA having some fun with friends.

PIAA are currently on the NSW "task Force" for companion animals NSW.

"the lunatics are running the asylum"

[Crisovar]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

I believe that has more to do with the requirements of the Dept of Fair Trade

[dog_fan]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

There's a Trade Practices Act which would not allow an association such as the ANKC to enforce a ban. So it's not a case of the ANKC 'allowing' registered breeders to sell puppies in a pet shop or not.

But it does not contravene that Act to have recommended guidelines on homing puppies & dogs, in terms of screening for suitability, providing follow-up advice & support etc. As many registered breeders, who provide appropriate care for their puppies & dogs, do.

And, as far as I know, such a relationship between breeder & potential puppy owner is urged, ethically.

So that makes it OK? Registered ANKC breeders selling to pet shops and the public are supposed to think that ANKC breeders are ethical and operating under an ethical system? I think not.

[~Anne~]

Re: ANKC and pet shops.

It might be that the ANKC can't prevent but they actually condone it.

[Leema]

Here is a pic of the President of the PIAA having some fun with friends.

PIAA are currently on the NSW "task Force" for companion animals NSW.

"the lunatics are running the asylum"

Steve Austin is pictured here with a dog he trained to locate feral cats in remote areas.

[mita]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

There's a Trade Practices Act which would not allow an association such as the ANKC to enforce a ban. So it's not a case of the ANKC 'allowing' registered breeders to sell puppies in a pet shop or not.

But it does not contravene that Act to have recommended guidelines on homing puppies & dogs, in terms of screening for suitability, providing follow-up advice & support etc. As many registered breeders, who provide appropriate care for their puppies & dogs, do.

And, as far as I know, such a relationship between breeder & potential puppy owner is urged, ethically.

So that makes it OK? Registered ANKC breeders selling to pet shops and the public are supposed to think that ANKC breeders are ethical and operating under an ethical system? I think not.

No one says that it's OK. It happens to be not illegal.

Because of the Trade Practices Act, an association can't state and enforce a ban. Best they can do is suggest ethical guidelines which they can't make binding.

If there were another piece of legislation which said that the sale of dogs & puppies were in a different category, then the situation could be different (which has been tried & defeated. Remember Clover Moore's efforts?).

Why is Animal Liberation the only group that gives a counter case in public matters like this ? Thank goodness someone does. But I'd like to see other groups commenting, from other angles.

Edited March 6, 2012 by mita

[Salukifan]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

Sorry but that's simply not true.

From the Dogs ACT Code of Ethics:

9 I shall not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers. or directly or indirectly to allow a dog to be given as a prize or donation in a contest of any kind.

Some states may allow sales to PIAA accredited shops (and those only) iaw with the ANKC Code of Ethics but NO state allows pups to leave breeders before the age of 8 weeks and that's about 3 weeks too old for a lot of petshops.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Telida Whippets

[dog_fan]

Let's not forget that ANKC registered breeders can sell puppies to pet shops without any problems as the ANKC allows this to be acceptable behaviour.

There's a Trade Practices Act which would not allow an association such as the ANKC to enforce a ban. So it's not a case of the ANKC 'allowing' registered breeders to sell puppies in a pet shop or not.

But it does not contravene that Act to have recommended guidelines on homing puppies & dogs, in terms of screening for suitability, providing follow-up advice & support etc. As many registered breeders, who provide appropriate care for their puppies & dogs, do.

And, as far as I know, such a relationship between breeder & potential puppy owner is urged, ethically.

So that makes it OK? Registered ANKC breeders selling to pet shops and the public are supposed to think that ANKC breeders are ethical and operating under an ethical system? I think not.

No one says that it's OK. It happens to be not illegal.

Because of the Trade Practices Act, an association can't state and enforce a ban. Best they can do is suggest ethical guidelines which they can't make binding.

If there were another piece of legislation which said that the sale of dogs & puppies were in a different category, then the situation could be different (which has been tried & defeated. Remember Clover Moore's efforts?).

So if it's ok because it's not legal then how can anyone complain about legal commercial breeders?

Seems a bit of double standards going on in this thread.