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Dog and cat breeders required to be registered

Latrobe City Council has warned domestic animal breeders that they must have their premises registered as a business with their council if they wish to sell dogs and cats

By Latrobe City Council - 18th May 2005 - Back to News

Exemptions apply for registered members of four organisations approved by the Minister for Agriculture: The Feline Council (Victoria) Inc; The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy; The Victorian Canine Association Inc; and The Cat Authority of Victoria. However, the exemptions only apply where under ten females are kept on the premises for the purposes of breeding.

Latrobe City’s Manager Local Laws, Peter Fraser, said that breeders selling offspring were conducting a business, and that as a business, their premises were required to be registered unless exempt.

"We are noting more and more attempts to sell puppies and kittens. The advertisements being placed are clearly from people who are breeding animals for profit. However, our investigations reveal that the majority of properties where these animals are bred are not registered under the act, and the exemptions do not apply. People selling animals from properties that are not registered or exempt, can be fined $1000," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said that if domestic pet owners advertise puppies or kittens free of charge to a good home, or on a one-off basis, they do not need to register.

"It is only those who are regularly selling dogs and cats who must be registered," Mr Fraser said.

Latrobe City Councillor, Lisa Price, said the requirements were aimed at protecting the welfare of domestic animals.

"There have been numerous examples of domestic animals, dogs in particular, being sold to inappropriate homes. Most professional breeders take great care to ensure their animals are placed with suitable clients who will have the long term interest of the pet at heart," Cr Price said.

"For example, certain dogs will require constant attention and companionship, others are unsuitable for a household with young children, and good breeders will ensure the prospective home is suitable for the animals they have raised.

"Unfortunately a number of backyard breeders simply couldn’t care less who purchases the animals they are selling. They are simply interested in what they see as an easy way to make some money, breeding puppies. The tragedy is that animals placed with inappropriate buyers often have health problems due to the environment they are raised in, or end up abandoned and unloved."

"There will always be some situations where a pet has to be found a new home because of an owner moving to where they are unable to have a pet, or where the onset of their own poor health means they are no longer able to look after a pet. In such cases council encourages those pet owners to attempt to find a new home for their animal, and advertising is a good way to find a new prospective owner. However, there should be no financial transaction undertaken.

Mr Fraser said Local Laws officers would be specifically monitoring attempts to sell puppies and kittens during the next few weeks to ensure sellers were operating within the requirements of the act.

"We strongly advise breeders to incorporate their domestic animal business premises’ number or their membership of one of the exempt organisations in any advertising they undertake for the sale of puppies or kittens," Mr Fraser said.

"We also suggest that those taking on the responsibility of a puppy or kitten, purchase their pet from a registered breeder, member of an applicable organisation, or store that has the welfare of the animal at heart," Mr Fraser added.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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