Puppy Farm Laws Fast Tracked

[Lhok]

Link: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/puppy-farm-laws-fasttracked-20150418-1mnv6c.html

The RSPCA and local councils will have new powers to seize animals from abusive breeders under laws that have been fast-tracked by the state government.

New laws targeting puppy farms that were passed by the former government, and were due to be brought into force on July 1, were made effective from last weekend to bring them into the cycle of pet registration renewal around the state.

The reforms require councils to reject registration of a domestic animal business if the owner has been found guilty of animal rights abuses in the past 10 years, and provide stronger powers for councils to seize animals from such businesses. They will also increase pressure on businesses to register breeding cats and dogs.

"Being able to say 'time's up, we're coming to get your animals' is really helpful," said RSPCA Victoria CEO Liz Walker. She said the RSPCA had anticipated the delivery of greater powers and had "no doubt" it could deal with caring for the number of animals the reforms were likely to bring into its care.

The moves are part of a suite of reforms that Ms Walker said she hoped would "break the business model" of puppy farms in the state.

Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said she hoped to bring laws imposing more serious restrictions, including the promised limit of 10 breeding bitches per business and a limit of five litters per bitch, before Parliament later this year.

"Puppy farmers in Victoria have clearly seen the election of the Andrews government as very bad news for them, and they are right," Ms Pulford said.

Dr Walker said the RSPCA is developing a program to discourage breeders from euthanising dogs once they have delivered the five litters they are allowed. This could include programs encouraging breeders to relinquish their animals, which could potentially be distributed to shelters around the country. She said the total response to the reforms was likely to cost millions of dollars.

--Lhok