Steve

Much better - thank you

Up until now we have been sworn to secrecy and havent been able to relay what went on at the meeting we attended in Canberra. We have now been given approval to share this with you. Puppy Farms Problems, desired outcomes and ways forward Background RSPCA Australia considers puppy farming to be a significant national animal welfare issue. To address puppy farming at a national level and to generate much needed discussion and debate regarding this serious animal welfare issue, RSPCA Australia released the RSPCA Australia Puppy Farm Discussion Paper in January 2010, available here: http://www.rspca.org.au/assets/files/Campa...aperJan2010.pdf. Back in January 2010, RSPCA Australia called for submissions on the Discussion Paper with the intention of seeking comment and feedback from a broad audience. To achieve this, the paper was sent to key stakeholders and was made publicly available on the RSPCA Australia website. We received over 100 responses to the Discussion Paper from individuals and various organisations. All of the responses were carefully considered, summarised and used to help develop a draft consensus document, based on the framework of ideas presented in the Discussion Paper. In August, RSPCA Australia convened a meeting involving a number of key stakeholders, including representatives from the AAWS Companion Animal Working Group, Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders, Australian National Kennel Council, Australian Veterinary Association, Animal Welfare League Queensland, DeathrowPets, Dogs NSW, Master Dog Breeders and Associates, NSW Young Lawyers, Pet Industry Association Australia, RSPCA NSW, RSPCA QLD, RSPCA Victoria and RSPCA Australia to work through the consensus document and reach agreement on a final version. This document reflects the outcome of that process: it presents a series of agreed problems, desired outcomes and ways forward which, if implemented, would bring a complete end to puppy farming in Australia. Problem 1: There is no agreed definition of puppy farming or clarity between what is puppy farming what is animal hoarding. Desired outcome: Define the problem of puppy farming. Recommended way forward: 1.1 A puppy farm (also known as a puppy factory or puppy mill) is defined as an intensive dog breeding facility that is operated under inadequate conditions that fail to meet the dogs’ psychological, behavioural, social and/or physiological needs. Puppy farms are usually large-scale commercial operations, but inadequate conditions may also exist in small volume breeding establishments which may or may not be run for profit. 1.2 Animal hoarding is a separate problem that can involve keeping higher than usual numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability. Compulsive animal hoarding can be characterised as a symptom of mental disorder rather than as deliberate cruelty towards animals. Hoarders are deeply attached to their animals; find it extremely difficult to relinquish them; and typically fail to recognise that they are harming their animals by failing to provide them with proper care. 1.3 Activities designed to end puppy farming by setting and enforcing minimum standards for dog breeding will also help to address animal hoarding. 2 Problem 2 Current voluntary registration or accreditation programs are not sufficient to ensure the identification and traceability of breeders. Desired outcome: All dogs are permanently traceable to the breeder and all subsequent owners and sellers through a nationally coordinated system. Recommended way forward: 2.1 A system is developed which ensures that all dogs are registered and traceable to the person who bred the dog. This must include compulsory microchip identification of puppies to the breeder prior to sale or transfer to be implemented in all jurisdictions. 2.2 Mechanisms for tracking breeder information should be explored, including utilising existing microchip registration systems to enable puppies to be traced to the breeder. 2.3 The current Gold Coast breeder permit pilot project should be examined as a model for a potential national system. 2.4 A national approach is required to ensure that puppies transferred across jurisdictions remain traceable. Such a system could be administered at the state or local government level. Problem 3 There are insufficient standards nationwide to provide for the welfare and health of breeding dogs and puppies and ensure that puppies are appropriately reared to be suitable as companion animals. Desired outcome: Enforceable animal welfare legislation, supported by compulsory minimum standards for the breeding of dogs, is in place and is consistent across all jurisdictions. Recommended way forward: 3.1 Standards are developed which are sufficient to provide for the welfare and health of breeding dogs and puppies and to ensure that puppies are appropriately reared to be suitable as companion animals. They must adequately address the psychological, behavioural, social and physiological needs of both breeding dogs and puppies. 3.2 Standards must cover all aspects of dog breeding that have an impact on animal welfare including: staff competencies and training, staff to dog ratios, record keeping, dog care and management, breeding, rearing and socialisation, health and veterinary care, transfer of ownership and transport. 3.3 Standards must be linked to existing animal welfare legislation. 3.4 Standards should take into consideration the national Standards and Guidelines for Dogs currently in development through AAWS. Problem 4 Current accreditation systems and self-regulation of the sale of dogs are insufficient to prevent puppies from puppy farms being sold. Desired outcome: Enforceable legislation, supported by compulsory minimum standards for the sale of dogs, is in place in all jurisdictions. Recommended way forward: 4.1 Advertising and sale conditions for puppies must allow individual animals to be traced to their breeder. Potential mechanisms for this should be explored, including the disclosure of a breeder number, ABN and/or microchip number wherever animals are advertised and when they are sold or transferred. 4.2 Regulation of the sale of dogs must require that all puppies are microchipped and vaccinated prior to supply. Potential mechanisms should be explored to ensure compliance, including vendors being required to record the microchip numbers and vaccination details of all puppies supplied. 4.3 Regulation of the sale of dogs must assist in protecting consumers and enable action to be taken when problems occur after sale. This should include the following minimum requirements: a A guarantee which allows the return of animals for any reason within a specified time period b A mechanism for customers to make a complaint to the breeder and/or appropriate authority when problems occur after sale. This mechanism must be disclosed to the customer. 4.4 The issue of responsibility surrounding the rehoming of returned dogs should also be explored. 4.4 In the interim, exploring the feasibility of establishing a website for dog breeders that meet the above requirements to advertise puppies directly to the public should be further examined. 4.5 Explore mechanisms regarding desexing of dogs at time of sale to non-breeders Problem 5 Current requirements for the export of dogs and puppies are set by the importing country. There is no mechanism in place to ensure that exported puppies have been bred in facilities which meet minimum standards of care. Desired outcome: Export provisions for sale of puppies overseas are strengthened. Recommended way forward: 5.1 Discussions are held with AQIS to develop minimum standards for the export of puppies, similar to those currently in place for the export of livestock and native wildlife. 5.2 The following requirements should be considered: a All dogs to be microchipped prior to export; microchip details are recorded and made available to authorised animal welfare inspectors b A minimum age and weight for the export of puppies c exploring strategies to prevent the export of puppies to puppy farms overseas. 5.3 In the absence of these export provisions, breeder associations are encouraged to set minimum standards for export in line with these requirements. Problem 6 Puppy farmers can access overseas markets without complying with taxation laws. Desired outcome: Raise awareness of puppy farming with Centrelink and the ATO and increase compliance with taxation laws. Recommended way forward: 6.1 Information should be collated to estimate the value of puppy farming and the potential cost of non-tax-compliant operators. 6.2 Discussions should be held with the ATO to raise awareness of puppy farming, identify how information on puppy farming operations can be shared between relevant government authorities, and to encourage ATO investigation of puppy farming operations. Problem 7 Current regulations relating to the breeding and sale of dogs are insufficient or ineffectively enforced. Desired outcome: Gaps in regulations for the welfare of dogs in the breeding and sale of dogs are closed and regulations are effectively enforced. Recommended way forward: 7.1 Action is taken to develop best practices for enforcement of current and future regulations relating to the identification, registration, breeding and sale of dogs. 7.2 Where gaps in current legislation are identified, changes are required to ensure that puppy farming activities can be identified and prosecuted. Changes to be considered include: a Prohibition Orders in specific circumstances to prevent further ownership of animals where legal proceedings are not available, to prevent puppy farmers from continuing their business b Explore existing Australian legislation with a view to procedures that defendants to be required to pay court bonds prior to any litigation appeals or appeals in relation to the forfeiture of animals. The bond amount should be based on the financial cost of caring for the dogs on a daily basis, acknowledging that during this period such this care is being provided by RSPCA or other rescue group and not by the defendant. Where a court bond is not paid, the owner would be required to surrender the animals for rehoming. c Penalties increased to reflect the economic value of the trade. d Explore potential amendments to the Animal Welfare Legislation to specifically address puppy farming 7.3 As a general principle, State/Territory animal welfare legislation should include the concept of a ‘duty of care’, similar to that reflected in the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, to assist in the prosecution of cases where enforceable standards are lacking. 7.4 Governments ensure effective enforcement by allocating sufficient resources and enabling government agencies to play a greater role. 6 Problem 8 Awareness of puppy farming and responsibilities of breeders, retailers and buyers is low. Desired outcome: A high level of public awareness of puppy farming and the responsibilities of breeders, retailers and buyers. Recommended way forward: 8.1 Registration/licensing or other relevant authorities should ensure that owners of entire dogs and bitches are provided with information on their responsibilities as breeders at the point of registration. 8.2 Stakeholders should undertake to raise awareness with their members and customers of existing legislation, standards and guidelines and to encourage members to support improvements in the regulation of the breeding and sale of dogs. 8.3 Information should be developed and provided to vets, pet supply stores and others to help them identify possible puppy farm operators. 8.4 Explore a process for vets, pet supply stores and members of the community to notify relevant authorities if they suspect one of their clients is running a puppy farm operation. 8.5 Explore training and education opportunities for people involved in the pet industry and enforcement regarding puppy farms. The way forward Roundtable participants will form a coalition with the aims of: a raising public awareness about puppy farms and how to identify responsible dog breeders b promoting an agreed position to governments c disseminating and implementing the recommendations put forward in this summary document. d considering future meetings

NSW Only

A business is defined by the tax department, so if you are not making enough profit to defined as a business for tax purposes then you are not a business by the companion animal act either. Many breeders have tried to register as a business to claim their expenses but I don't know any show breeder who has succeeded. The Tax department require you to make a profit in the first three years to declare anything a business. When you take out all the deductions involved in keeping, showing and breeding dogs , the average hobby breeder that only has 1-3 litters a year cannot even get close to making a profit over three years. yep

The problem is that councils are able to introduce their own by laws and they have been doing a pretty good job of pushing people around with them. Many people in NSW think they are restricted to owning only two dogs in their shire which is not true. If you happen to own an entire bitch or two that is not evidence that you are involved in the business of breeding.According to the ATO You are not in business unless you fit certain criteria - if you have any doubt go to their website and run through their eligibility tool for an ABN- http://calculators.ato.gov.au/scripts/axos...t.xr4&go=ok Remember though that any more than two you have to house at least 15 metres from a dwelling or a place used to prepare food and the codes of practice for breeding are for anyone involved in the ACTIVITY of breeding dogs.

Recently many people have contacted the MDBA with problems because their local councils have said they cant have more than 2 dogs - this is information pertinent to NSW dog owners. Page 17 http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/DLG/DLGHome/Docu...tion/CA_FAQ.pdf Is there a limit on the number of companion animals I can own? No. There is no limit on the number of animals that a person can own, provided that the animals are properly cared for and do not pose a nuisance, health or safety risk to other members of the community. However, councils can develop policies either through their Local Companion Animal Management Plans or as Local Orders Policies, which provide guidance as to the number of animals considered acceptable in your local area. These policies will only be applied where health, safety, amenity or animal welfare problems are identified and are subject to public consultation before being adopted by council. A Local Orders Policy in relation to the keeping of animals serves two purposes: firstly, to provide a guideline for all local residents on what is generally considered an appropriate number and kind of animals which may be kept; and secondly, to provide publicly accepted and documented criteria which council will use in investigating any complaint that animals kept by a particular person pose a health or safety risk to other members of the community. Councils do not have powers under either the Local Government Act or the Companion Animals Act to generally enforce a limit on the number of animals kept as pets by all residents. Nor do councils have powers to require a person to apply for approval to keep more than the number of animals specified in a Local Orders Policy. If you are operating a business involving the keeping of animals, such as a breeding or boarding establishment, you must comply with the usual procedures and requirements for obtaining approval to operate a business. In these circumstances, you are also required to comply with the Code of Practice - Breeding Dogs, Code of Practice - Breeding Cats, or the Code of Practice - Dogs and Cats in Animal Boarding Establishments under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, as issued by the Animal Welfare Unit of the Division of Primary Industries (Agriculture

That's all very well and good Steve, but tell me why have they got their hands up and eagerly ready to to help the government In slaughtering dogs! They did not have to oblige with It! I'm sure their companion dog members will be ever so pleased to hear about this And In this regard I will flog them, and If they go ahead with It they sure as hell damn deserve It too nods

I only got a quick look from a distance. Intended to come over and say hi but when I came back I couldnt see you. Congratulations. Julie Ganmain resident 2

Same question for me still stands. How is he going to define a purebred dog ? If he cant say which is a registered dog with pedigree papers no amount of research is going to mean anything to anyone. He has admitted this is a problem and promised me in front of 250 people that it would be addressed. He was removed as head of the project but was still there and is still very much a part of it.

I need your real name [email protected]

Vicdogs only obligation is to look after their members papered ANKC recognised purebreds. There is no point in flogging them for it - I dont agree with it but it wont change. Its the government which have enabled them to be in a position where they have given them a monopoly,unfair trade advantage and power unequaled in any other area.

I do about the same. I provide clean bedding and fresh water and food - and that's pretty much it. I sit back and watch TV while she does her stuff, with one eye on her but expecting she knows better about what she should do than I do. I don't touch them or her while its all happening apart from moving the occasional one a bit closer to her now and then to give her a hand and she slid them out,cleaned em up and did all she needed to. This bitch is a maiden and is doing it all without missing a beat.It was all done and dusted in under 4 hours. Once I see they are all feeding O.K. and she has a handle on it I go to bed. Its text book stuff - easy.

The ANKC isn't the only registry and I hope Vic dogs is paying the government a commission because the government in a hundred different ways in Victoria is drumming up business for the ANKC and effectively keeping their competition at a trade disadvantage. The fact is why would any government want to get in the middle of this ? Why do they want to have such stupid laws when they could just as easily simply have legislation in place and police it to ensure that owners have fencing and adequate controls on their dogs and that all dogs regardless of what bloody registry they happen to be registered with are treated equally and controlled. Why does a government want to set up breed ID panels and go through the crap of court cases to ID a dog's breed ? Why does a Purebred canine council member who can not tell a purebred from any other without the necessary registered pedigree want to sit on a panel which ID's dogs which they cant know anything about because they are not breeds recognised by their org based on how they think it looks ? Why does a government want to kill accused dogs straight away rather than wait a few days when its off the street and no longer a danger to the public if its not to stop anyone being able to turn up with the paperwork?

Mine stay white for a while I don't weigh them or mark them until a bit later.They all just look like peas in a pod. I reckon she can count too by the way she lines em up like sausages. I love Maremma babies.

Im curious - how much did you do to help her while she was whelping?

Dont waste your time - if he knows the purebred world is upset with him he will love it - in fact he will use it against us.

You just cant get over how clean they make them and keep them - can you? Mine look like marshmallows.

My family and I have been out driving around the paddocks as it seems a little dog has hit the toe after the fireworks. Our property is directly behind the show ground. No luck but so I hope it turns up soon.

Yes its often a shock moment when you really stand back and read the code of ethics and see between the lines what people are really able to do. They can cross breed , they can breed unregistered dogs, they can sell to pet shops, they can sell whole litters to dealers for over seas pet shops etc. Then you get the PR stuff they introduce without a scrap of science which they chuck you out over or fine you. Things like minimum ages for breeding, maximum ages for breeding, how often you can have litter is introduce for nothing more than because someone thinks it looks good with no consideration for things like the risks of cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Now its you're not allowed to take a pregnant bitch to a dog show.Victoria want to talk about how many dogs you should own , how many litters you can have and they want evidence to show you are breeding champions etc. they can punish you for breeding too often but not for where or how you sell your puppies because how often you breed a dog isn't covered by ACCC. You cant say who does and who does not have any interest in improving the breed and your definition of what that is wont be the same as someone else's. The RSPCA and Paul McGreevy for example would disagree with what you think is in the best interests of the breed. No one can say either whether someone is going after the mighty dollar over genetic health because no one really knows what one breeder's goals are and what they are working on in their breeding program.

This is a short term helping hand to get back on top of things. Perhaps they have over commited to a degree, but these are their pets and if people can help the owners keep them whilst they get back on their feet than that is the best option. If it is going to be a long term problem, then the owners may need help to sell or rehome some of their animals to make it more managable. Not fair to splash all the details on a public forum. Who knows, you may find yourself in a similar situation one day and just need a helping hand for the short term to keep your dogs? Just like to add sometimes we help look after animals while we are helping the owners to find new homes for them and in at least one of these current situations thats exactly what will be done. The owners are prepared to accept our help and have agreed to a time line to get it done. Its a pretty delicate matter when you first broach the idea of them giving up their fight to keep them as usually they have given up everything they had to hang onto them.Its even more so after the community has had to face the issues this one has. So far though we haven't done too bad and often we have helped them find new ways to make money and support themselves better to be able to be more secure.

Not in appropriate at all - it was exactly this that we checked before we said we would help. Before Pacers ever gets involved we have to have a clear view that its not just a band- aid and that the situation has a reasonable chance of being able to get out of the spot they are in and ensure the welfare of the animals way into the future. While we are helping we also work with the counselling team that's already in place toward various goals or we provide a counselor ourselves. These people have been able to look after their animals very well up to now so worming and husbandry are up to date - being strapped for cash for feed is a new development and temporary. Everything we do is reassessed weekly and we only ever give help for short periods of time unless there are truly exceptional circumstances.

Send me an email with your address and Ill send you a parcel of cookie cutters,paw print cello bags and ties and some other goodies to help you celebrate! [email protected] Julie

The counselor is telling us that everyone has moved on and there is very little help left for her clients. Ive no idea how the VCA are placed but I also don't know whether they will help horses etc either.

Good idea Ill chase them up. Julie

Ive sent them an email - will let you know the outcome- thank you - good thinking! Julie