New anti-puppy farm laws see dozens of dodgy dealers, pet shops and breeders shutdown

More than 100 businesses have been probed in Victoria after a shake-up of animal welfare laws, and even pet shops reported to be selling pedigree pups have been raided in the crackdown.

Poodle X with her puppies that were quarantined at the RSPCA in East Burwood. The puppies are between 7 & 10 days old, and were seized from a puppy farm. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Dozens of dodgy dog breeders, pet shops and animal brokers have been investigated and shut down following a shake-up of Victoria’s animal welfare laws.

The Herald Sun can reveal that the state’s major investigations team has probed more than 100 animal businesses since January last year as new laws continue to come into effect.

The crackdown included raids on pet shops reported to be selling pedigree pups as well as dodgy backyard breeders and brokers.

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So far 25 cases have been prosecuted, with 13 of the cases before the courts and two under appeal.

Meanwhile, Dogs Victoria took disciplinary action against 34 breeding members including 18 operators whose registrations were suspended and five of whom have been permanently barred.

Minister for agriculture Jaclyn Symes Picture: Dannika Bonser

Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, welcomed the news that the tougher laws were stamping out unethical elements of the pet breeding industry.

“We said we’d crack down on dodgy pet shops and breeders and create a system where people can be confident they are buying cats and dogs from responsible and caring breeders,’’ She said.

“And our landmark legislation and funding boost is putting an end to puppy factories and pet shops putting dogs and cats in harm’s way.”

The state government passed legislation in 2017 aimed at phasing out puppy farms by 2020.

The first wave of changes focused on placing more restrictions on hobby breeders and banning pet shops from selling pedigree puppies.

From July this year any breeder advertising puppies and kittens for sale online must sign up to a new statewide register.

While commercial dog breeding businesses have until April 10, 2020 to either reduce the number of fertile female dogs on their property to less than 10 or become an approved commercial dog breeder to have between 11 and 50 fertile female dogs.

The latest data not only revealed investigations but also shows Victorians were actively backing the changes, with 527 reports against businesses flouting the new animal welfare laws.

This is more than double the figure recorded in the previous three years before the changes came into effect.