TIME FOR PUPPY FARM CRACKDOWN

The Tasmanian Greens today called for a crackdown on unregulated puppy farms, amid growing concerns over the breeding of dogs under inhumane conditions for the pet impulse-buying market.

Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP urged the Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green to consider legislation along the lines of Oscar’s Law, a Victorian initiative that seeks to ban the impulse sale of dogs from pet shops and encourages adoptions from shelters.

“We need to reduce the ghastly toll of surplus, abandoned and stray animals that are routinely euthanized on a daily basis,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Having spoken recently to the Hobart Dogs Home, it was sad to learn that that they have growing concerns about an increase in unregulated puppy farms supplying animals to pet shops for impulse purchase.”

“These puppy farms treat dogs as a cash crop, with breeding bitches forced to produce litter after litter often in unclean and inhumane conditions.”

“The RSPCA alone euthanized more than 56,000 cats and dogs last financial year, which doesn’t include all the animals put down at council pounds around Australia every day.”

“Advocacy group, Deathrowpets estimates that a quarter of a million unwanted cats and dogs are killed in Australian pounds every year.”

“There needs to be greater clarity around whether the state’s regulations for dog breeders are sufficient to provide rigorous oversight of breeding purposes and conditions.”

“We welcome the Minister’s indication today that the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee would be looking into the issue, and we expect a speedy and strong response.”
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Animal Welfare Spokesperson Wednesday, 26 September 2012