Dog abused in puppy farm

Puppy Farming: Progress and Challenges in Australia

Progress for Puppies, but Much More to Be Done

25.11.2024

After decades of tireless campaigning, New South Wales has finally passed a bill to ban puppy farming—a huge step forward for dogs and the people who love them.

This victory belongs to everyone who worked relentlessly to bring attention to the cruelty behind the closed doors of puppy farms. At FOUR PAWS, we’re proud to have contributed to this progress, and while we celebrate this milestone, we know there’s much more to do to truly protect dogs in Australia.

NSW's New Puppy Farming Laws

For years, puppy farms in NSW operated with little to no oversight, with facilities able to house hundreds of dogs in appalling conditions. The new laws introduce significant improvements, including:

  • Breeder Identification Numbers: Breeders must now register through the NSW pet registry, increasing transparency and helping puppy buyers make informed choices.
  • Litter Limits: Female dogs are limited to five natural litters or three caesarean litters with vet approval.
  • Breeding Cap: A maximum of 20 fertile female dogs over six months old is allowed at any breeding facility.
  • Penalties for Breaches: Individuals face fines of up to $110,000, two years in prison, or $550,000 for organisations violating the regulations.

These measures mark a positive shift, but there are gaps in the legislation that fail to adequately protect dogs, leaving room for ongoing cruelty.

 

Where the Legislation Falls Short

Whilst we acknowledge the positive changes, and appreciate the fact that no bill is perfect, there are some critical issues and weaknesses in the Bill that FOUR PAWS will continue to campaign on. 

The welfare of animals will always be our number one priority, and we will continue to fight for better and stronger laws. Which is why we are so disappointed that cats and the breeding of kittens has been excluded from the bill – there is absolute crisis for cats on the streets and in pound and shelters across NSW. This bill was a big opportunity to improve the welfare of cats that the government has failed to seize.

While the cap on breeding dog females is a step forward, facilities with up to 50 breeding dogs are allowed to continue operating for the next decade. This is far too lenient. Additionally:

  • The 20-dog cap applies only to fertile females, meaning facilities can still house unlimited male, desexed, or young dogs.
  • Mandatory breeder identification requires robust enforcement to prevent abuse. Based on our investigations in Europe, weak enforcement enables illegal breeding and sales to thrive online.
  • Cats and kitten breeding were excluded entirely from the legislation, missing an opportunity to address the crisis of homeless cats in NSW.
     

The puppy trade in Australia

FOUR PAWS' Fight Continues

As an international animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS has long been fighting the unethical trade of puppies and dogs. Our recent Scale of the Trade report exposed the widespread illegal online sale of dogs across the European Union, this report accompanied our earlier expose on social media platform Meta where we found thousands of pups for sale in breach of Meta’s own policy.

Both investigations shed light on how inadequate regulation, and enforcement fuels the trade, leading to more suffering for dogs and puppies.

In Australia, the scale of the puppy trade remains largely unknown. FOUR PAWS plans to conduct similar investigations here to understand the scope of the problem and push for national reforms.

Remembering Strawberry

Strawberry was just a puppy herself—a young boxer not even one year old—when she was forced to breed on a NSW puppy farm. At only 10 months old, she was far too young to have puppies. Her small, underdeveloped body struggled through the pregnancy and birthing process, ultimately leading to her tragic death.

Strawberry managed to deliver three puppies, but complications soon arose, leaving her in severe distress and unable to give birth to the remaining pups. For days, she suffered without veterinary care, becoming critically ill as the unborn puppies began rotting inside her. Despite her worsening condition, no action was taken. She died in agony.

Meanwhile, her puppies were flown across the country to a high-end pet shop in Perth, where they were sold for $7,000 each. The puppy farm where she lived was subsequently investigated. The RSPCA discovered hundreds of dogs living in squalid conditions. The owners were prosecuted and fined $16,700 and were forced to reduce the number of dogs from 180 breeding females to 80, alongside 25 stud dogs.

This highlights yet another critical issue: even when laws are in place to protect dogs, they are often inadequate and poorly enforced. It’s shocking to think that over 100 dogs could still remain at the very site where Strawberry lived, suffered, and died.

This story also underscores the inherent cruelty of the interstate trade in puppies, which continues to drive unethical breeding practices.

This story was adapted from information provided by Oscar’s Law and published widely in the media.

The National Problem: Fragmented Laws

State-based legislation, while valuable, cannot address the larger systemic issues. Victoria’s strict laws have successfully reduced large-scale puppy farming, but breeders often relocate to states like NSW and Queensland, where regulations are weaker. Inconsistent state laws allow the unethical trade to continue, particularly through online platforms.

Websites like Gumtree and social media channels remain breeding grounds for unregulated puppy sales. Buyers often have no idea about the conditions these puppies come from, or the suffering endured by their parents.

The Federal Government Must Act

To truly end puppy farming, Australia needs consistent national legislation. The federal government can lead by:

  • Establishing a centralised breeder and pet registration system.
  • Regulating and monitoring online puppy sales to shut down illegal operators.
  • Harmonising state laws to create nationwide minimum welfare standards.

International examples, like the EU’s efforts to address the illegal dog trade, provide a roadmap for Australia to follow.

Let’s Keep Fighting

NSW’s new laws are a significant victory, but they’re only part of the solution. Dogs like Strawberry—and the thousands of animals still suffering on puppy farms—deserve better. We’ll continue advocating for stronger laws, better enforcement, greater regulation of the online trade and a future where no dog endures such cruelty. Together, we can make it happen.

How to spot a puppy farmer?

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Unscrupulous puppy breeders...


will offer several different breeds of puppies which they can provide quickly, sometimes below the age of 8 weeks old. They will also not want to sign a contract or take the puppies back if anything goes wrong. Learn more ways to distinguish unscrupulous farmers from responsible breeders.

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Beware of scams by puppy farmers

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Buying puppies online carry risks.


Puppy scams are on the rise in Australia. If you want to buy a puppy online (from Facebook, gumtree, or other online markets), you need to be aware of some of the tricks puppy farmers may use. Read more on the frequently used tactics used by puppy scammers here.

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Adopt Don't Shop

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The Beauty of Adopting a Dog


Adopting a dog is a wonderful process. It’s a way of giving a loving new home to an animal in need. Learn the benefits of adopting a dog and how to do so here.

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Louise Ward with dog

Louise Ward

Programmes Lead, FOUR PAWS Australia

louise.ward@four-paws.org

GPO Box 2845, Sydney NSW 2001, Australia

FOUR PAWS Australia

Louise joined the FOUR PAWS in May 2024, with a focus on campaigns to end the cruel treatment of animals. Louise was formally the NSW State Director of the Animal Justice Party working to achieve legislative change for animals. Commitment to fixing injustices perpetrated against animals has been the driving force in her life. 

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