Your cute new fur baby might be the love of your life, but what life does its mother have? A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has been established to examine puppy farming and see just how good (or bad) the situation is.
Puppy farming is a major animal welfare issue worldwide. Welfare problems include extreme confinement where some cases breeding animals are allowed out of their cage to exercise, play, socialise, have companionship or even to go to the toilet; inadequate veterinary care and general care; unhygienic living conditions; inadequate and overcrowded housing conditions, and; frequent long-term health and/or behavioural problems in breeding dogs and puppies born in puppy farms as a result of the poor conditions they are bred in and a lack of adequate socialisation.
The inquiry is asking members of the community to contribute information about puppy farming in New South Wales.
Companion Animals Amendment Bill
The Upper House committee is considering the provisions proposed in the Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021. It will also explore related animal and consumer protection issues, the adequacy of current legal and enforcement frameworks, and other policy matters. As the legislation and policy for companion animals deals with both dogs and cats, each of the issues will also be considered in relation to cats and kittens.
The Chair of the committee, the Hon Mick Veitch MLC said the inquiry will consider the policy and legal changes proposed in the Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021, which seeks to regulate the breeding of companion animals and to provide enforcement powers for the purposes of regulating puppy and/or kitten businesses in the state. ‘This, in turn, will help inform the Parliament’s consideration of the bill.’
Aim to understand the animal protection associated pet farming
The committee also aims to understand the animal protection associated with puppy and/or kitten farming, as well as the consumer protection issues associated with the sale of pets from puppy and/or kitten farms online and in pet shops.
‘Current legislative and enforcement frameworks set standards for the care, management and sale of companion animals, ranging from housing and security to breeding and health care,’ said Mr Veitch. ‘It is important for the committee to understand different stakeholders’ views on these frameworks to ensure they are adequate for the welfare of the dogs and cats used for breeding and for the young they produce, and also fit for purpose for breeders and owners.’
Have your say on puppy mills
The committee invites interested individuals and organisations to have their say through the simple online questionnaire at www.bit.ly/puppy-farm-survey or by making a full written submission via the ‘submissions tab’ on the inquiry webpage.
The website contains further information about the inquiry, including the committee members and terms of reference, and the bill. Both the online questionnaire and submissions portal close on Sunday 6 March 2022.