Puppy farming is a major animal welfare issue in Australia. The main welfare problems associated with puppy farms include but are not limited to:
- Extreme confinement - in some cases breeding animals may never be allowed out of their cage to exercise, play, socialise, have companionship or to even urinate or defaceate.
- Inadequate veterinary care and general care (grooming and parasite control)
- Unhygienic living conditions
- Inadequate and overcrowded housing conditions
- Breeding dogs and puppies born in puppy farms often have long-term health and/or behavioural problems as a result of the poor conditions they are bred in and a lack of adequate socialisation
Puppies from puppy farms may be sold via any avenue of sale such as the internet, newspaper ads, markets, carboot sales, pet shops or sometimes at the puppy farm itself. Puppy farms may also use a house as a 'shop front' to sell their animals from, so you don't get to see the appalling conditions they breed dogs in. We don't know exactly how many puppy farms there are in Australia as many puppy farms operate in highly remote areas and are unknown by authorities but with the advent of internet sales it is a growing national problem. RSPCA inspectors have rescued dogs from puppy farms where hundreds of breeding females have been kept in cages in appalling conditions.
Be aware that any type or breed of dog can come from a puppy farm (purebred dogs, crossbreeds, mixxed breeds). So you cannot judge whether a dog has been bred in a puppy farm based on the breed or type of dog. The only way to be sure is to visit the breeding facility and check out the conditions and the breeder. Please see the RSPCA Smart Puppy Buyer's Guide below for more information.
RSPCA Australia is strongly opposed to puppy farming. We advocate regulation of the breeding, supply and sale of companion animals to help set minimum standards and stamp out puppy farms. With your help we can put a stop to this!
