Coalition cracks down on illegal puppy farms
14-November-2011
Member for Hastings, Neale Burgess MP today commended the Baillieu Government for introducing tough new legislation to the Victorian Parliament cracking down on illegal puppy farms.
Premier Ted Baillieu announced the Victorian Coalition Government’s crackdown on illegal puppy farms at the Lost Dogs’ Home in North Melbourne, including tough new penalties, massive fines for cruelty, equipping the RSPCA with new policing and confiscation powers, seizing profits and assets of illegal puppy farms and establishing an Animal Welfare Fund.
Mr Burgess said it was important to advocate for animals that played such an important role in many families and homes across Victoria.
“These new laws will help to protect vulnerable animals by cracking down on illegal puppy farms through increased maximum penalties and fines for offenders” Mr Burgess said.
Mr Baillieu said the legislation introduced into Parliament would deliver on the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition election commitment to crack down on illegal puppy farms and ensured operators were held accountable for the welfare of animals in their care.
“These are some of the strongest laws ever introduced to protect animals from abuse and neglect,” Mr Baillieu said.
“I am appalled by the images I have seen of abused and helpless animals and we will be establishing a $1.6 million Animal Welfare Fund to assist organisations that provide care and treatment for these abused animals.
“The legislation will also make it illegal to sell or advertise the sale of puppies without a microchip identification number or notice, giving the community confidence that puppies sold are only from legitimate breeders,” Mr Baillieu said.
The Coalition Government’s crackdown includes:
• an increase in maximum penalties for puppy farms operating illegally, from $1,195 to $20,000;
• penalties of up to $30,000 for rogue operators that breach the Code of Practice;
• a ban on owning animals of up to 10 years for those found guilty of operating un-registered puppy farms or breaching the Code of Practice;
• the introduction of a new offence for breeding establishments that fail to provide a microchip number (or council domestic animal business registration number) in an advertisement for a dog or cat; and
• the potential seizure of profits, assets and property of illegal puppy farm operators.
“The Victorian Government has strongly opposed illegal puppy farm practices and these changes to the law will send a strong message to those who abuse animals that the Coalition Government will not tolerate rogue operators or animal abuse,” Mr Baillieu said.
Media contact: 5977 5600