Animal Liberation group fights Kellyville Pets proposal for ‘puppy farm’
PLANS for a 60-dog breeding farm at Bathurst have outraged the Animal Liberation group after it was revealed the centre would supply dogs to Kellyville Pets.
Hills Shire
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PLANS for a 60-dog breeding farm at Bathurst have outraged the Animal Liberation group after it was revealed the centre would supply dogs to Kellyville Pets.
Animal Liberation spokesman and Hills residents Alex Vince is campaigning to prevent the “inhumane’’ proposal from being approved and calling on the pet shop to rescind the application.
“I was alerted to this proposal by one of our supporters,” Mr Vince said.
“We decided to investigate the issue and almost immediately realised we were looking at plans for a puppy farm.”
Mr Vince said major overpopulation and welfare problems arose from companion animals in Australia and called for Kellyville Pets to only sell dogs that it has rescued from shelters in its pet shop by 2019.
“We are concerned about the nature of the proposal and the problems that will arise if it goes ahead,” he said.
“So far we have had more than 5100 people sign the petition and residents can’t believe that Kellyville Pets has submitted a development application for a puppy farm.
“Puppy farms are known for inhumane treatment and Animal Liberation is determined to see the law catch up and make sure these facilities are made illegal.”
Kellyville Pets managing director John Grima said he was forced to cancel today’s pet adoption day after the Animal Welfare League pulled out due to the activist campaign against the plan.
He described the cancellation as “a tragedy for the abandoned animals that these organisations purport to support”.
“Forcing the cancellation of this event, which had already been heavily promoted in the local community, makes it so much harder to help,” he said.
Mr Grima called the claims against the plans “completely inaccurate and grossly misleading”.
“Kellyville Pets continues to have a strong welfare culture and has always, and will always, put animal welfare at the forefront,” he said.
“We believe shelter animals should always be a first option for those looking for a pet. It is an unfortunate truth that shelter animals may not be suitable for every family.
“We believe the best outcome is a combination of both rehoming and breeding happy, healthy puppies in a high standard breeding facility and not driving them to buy their puppy online, where most puppy farms trade and can’t be policed.”
Mr Grima said the company had “serious concerns about the unregulated nature of puppy farms in NSW and the lack of welfare enforcement on both dog breeders and pet shops, which can lead to terrible conditions for breeding dogs and their puppies”.
“That’s why every breeder we work with must agree to random inspections by the RSPCA and the AWL, as well an annual vet audit,” he said.
“We visit our main breeders periodically and won’t hesitate to stop dealing with them should we feel they are not striving for higher standards, even though they are meeting their legal requirements.”
The breeding facility would include large grassed yards and a socialisation and training area, 15 kennels and a dog run, 20 whelping kennels and an outdoor fenced space, eight mating kennels and activity areas.
“Despite the attacks from some groups, we continue to be keen to work with them to achieve the best animal welfare outcomes,” Mr Grima said.
The plan revealed the facility would provide Kellyville Pets with cavoodles and other small poodle and spaniel crosses.
Mr Grima and Mr Vince will meet this week to discuss issues and concerns.
