Queensland dog breeders fear new registration laws will not stop unethical breeders
/Queensland dog breeders are questioning how new dog breeder registration requirements will be enforced.
"We are finding it hard to see how it can be governed," said whippet breeder Cristina Fornasier, who has been breeding dogs for two decades.
"Will they have the manpower to cover the general public, how is it going to be possible that the public are regulated?"
This week the Queensland Government introduced new laws requiring anyone who advertises, sells or gives away puppies to be registered as a breeder and have a supply number.
The Queensland Dog Breeder Register is intended to promote the responsible breeding of dogs and was a 2015 Labor Government election promise.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries officers and the RSPCA will be responsible for policing the registration requirements.
Department spokesman Jim Thompson said there would also be a role for local government and the general public in enforcing the laws.
"We will be operating mainly off complaints," Mr Thompson said.
"This is a community problem, it is not something government can come in with a big stick and solve for everybody, it is something we all have to work on together."
Basenji breeder Louise Marsden said she supported the sentiment behind the laws but thought it would be tough to enforce the requirements.
"The unethical people will continue to do it until they are caught," Ms Marsden said.
"And then they have got to be taken to task by the law, we would hope that the facilities are going to be there."
Puppy farmers operating under the radar in Queensland
It is thought up to 100 illegal puppy farms are operating in Queensland.
Earlier this year the RSPCA issued a record number of offences against the owner of an alleged puppy farm at Glenarbon in southern Queensland.
Ms Marsden said she had been told unethical breeders were also operating in north Queensland, supplying pet shops, and selling puppies online.
"I believe that these sorts of people are trying to operate under the umbrella so they try and keep things pretty quiet," Ms Marsden said.
"They don't do health checks, lots of times they don't vaccinate or microchip which again under Government law that is a must, but they get away with it."
Ms Marsden said it may end up being the responsibility of the public to report breeders who look a bit suspicious and to do their own checks about the reputation of the breeder before they buy.
"People get emotionally involved in that if they see a puppy that they think looks cute and they think 'maybe we should take it home because we can look after it better'," she said.
"The general public needs to know and they need to look into what they are getting."
Finding a reputable breeder
Ms Fornasier and Ms Marsden said reputable breeders of purebred animals would be registered with Dogs Queensland and their local council in addition to having a supply number required under the new laws.
They said a responsible breeder would most likely want to inspect your property and ask you questions about your lifestyle before they sell you one of their animals.
The pair said be wary of breeders who offered to meet in public places and would not show you the sire or dam of the puppy they were selling.
"Dogs are not a commodity, we don't believe they are a money-making object," Ms Marsden said.
"So we welcome the spotlight on us, so long as the spotlight doesn't disadvantage us."