The NSW Government has established an inquiry into puppy farming, and are inviting members of the community to contribute to their exploration of the issue. 

The Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Bill 2021 seeks to regulate the breeding of companion animals and provide enforcement powers for the purposes of regulating puppy and/or kitten businesses in the state, according to Shadow Minister for Regional NSW Hon Mick Veitch MLC who is chair of the eight-member parliamentary committee.  

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a really close look at a parliamentary level at how our framework is in place for the breeding of cats and dogs," Mr Veitch explains. 

"What we're really after is people's views about whether the current laws are sufficient, or whether they need to be toughened … How can we make sure that people are not inadvertently buying from a puppy farm?" 

Puppy farms are defined as an ‘intensive dog breeding facility that is operated under inadequate conditions that fail to meet the dogs’ behavioural, social and/or physiological needs.’

They are usually large scale operations where the animals live in squalor.

Puppies are kept in cramped, unhygienic pens with inadequate veterinary care, and are not allowed to be released for exercise, or to go to the toilet. They are often separated from their mother at a young age which can cause behavioural issues. 

Similarly, the dogs used for breeding in puppy farms often live in cruel conditions in overcrowded spaces with little break between litters, as well as insufficient care during the pregnancy. 

It is estimated that there are 200 puppy farms in NSW, which could produce up to 103,000 puppies annually. Kitten factories are also a rising issue, however according to Animals Australia, are more difficult to identify due to regulatory oversight. 

Puppy farms are currently considered a legal operation in NSW, however any operators found breaching animal protection laws will have their animals seized, as well as receiving fines up to $22,000 and gaol time of up to 2 years for each offence.

The industry is mostly self regulated, with no caps on dog numbers, and no caps on litter limits. 

The high prices being paid for puppies and increasing demand seen during COVID lockdowns appear to have enticed people to start breeding dogs, and are thought to result in the establishment of more puppy farms.

The large number of puppies being produced is also leading to fears of overpopulation in animal shelters in north-western NSW.  

The issue was highlighted in August 2021 when Bourke Shire Council made nationwide news after the local animal shelter was forced to euthanase 15 dogs after reaching overcapacity, and not being able to find homes in the local area.  

There have also been anecdotal reports of increasing numbers of abandoned pups and kittens being found along rural roadsides, rivers and in forested reserves in some areas of the western plains.

These two pups were found along the Pilliga to Coonamble Road earlier today (Friday 11 February).

Kylie Parry from Northwest Vets says that while she isn't aware of any puppy farms in her region, that it's not easy to identify them. 

"The difficult thing is defining puppy farming," she says.

"We can't get upset as long as breeders are following guidelines, and doing the right thing particularly around their breeder identification number, getting all the puppies checked before they go, that they're vaccinated, and that they're identified before they leave the place. I think the ones we need to worry about are the people who are not doing that." 

Mr Veitch says that he hopes that submissions to the inquiry will help identify where the puppy farming operations are running, and create legislation for them to be eradicated. 

"It will hopefully craft laws that as a parliament, will take this issue forward for a long time so that we will all know when we buy a pup or a kitten that it's been bred ethically and humanely, looked after, and that it's not been abused." 

To have your say on the Puppy Farming Inquiry click here.