Western Australia Is Banning Puppy Farms And The Sale Of Puppies At Stores

Western Australia is moving to ban the sale of puppies at stores and puppy farms.

The state government wants to ensure that all sales of dogs in WA meet the strictest of guidelines from now on.

Premier Mark McGowan wants to end over-breeding and the operations of illegal breeders through the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill, which is being introduced into the the state's parliament.

Mike Prince (Creative Commons)

"Dogs are an important part of many families in Western Australia. We want to make sure they are looked after and treated well throughout their lives," Mr McGowan said in a statement.

"The new laws will mean dogs can be traced throughout their lives through a central registration system, allowing authorities to identify dodgy or illegal breeders and shut down their operations.

"We will also be providing assistance to pet shops to help them transition to dog and puppy adoption centres meaning they can re-home displaced and abandoned dogs.

"We're going to outlaw this awful, terrible, shocking practice."

The state government will also being introducing a system that helps track every puppy as it grows into an adult. The central registration system will allow authorities to work out where each dog comes from and will give them greater knowledge about illegal breeders.

The move is being celebrated by the RSPCA, with the organisation declaring this to be the biggest step towards animal protection in the state in 20 years.

"It is now up to every dog lover in WA to let their local member of parliament know that these reforms are important to ensure the legislation is passed quickly," the organisation said.

"The sooner the legislation comes into law, the sooner it will help prevent some of the suffering and cruelty to dogs."

Pixabay

Under the proposed legislation, owners of dogs who aren't registered breeders will have to de-sex their animal by the time it turns two years old.

Animal stores will also be only permitted to sell dogs found at rescue centres - which will likely impact on their business models quite significantly. According to the Mandurah Mail, the state government will 'help' these businesses make the transition.

Puppy Farming Working Group chair Lisa Baker is in favour of the laws.

"This legislation will make our dogs and puppies safer and encourage better welfare for all dogs," she said.

"West Australians will be able to trust that the dogs and puppies they are bringing into their homes have not come from illegal puppy farms, and, if necessary, can be traced back to the person who bred them."

Topics: News, Animals, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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