RSPCA WA welcomes new laws and online systems stopping puppy farming

The RSPCA WA has welcomed a new contract awarded by the State Government aiming to crack down on puppy farming. A significant milestone has been reached for the State Government’s Stop Puppy Farming reforms with a $9.8 million contract awarded to Seisma Group to establish an online centralised registration system for dogs and cats. This will replace the existing 159 local government systems which will aim to better identify cases of puppy farming. The new PetsWA system will replace all dog and cat registers and it will be used by pet owners, local governments, rangers and rescue organisations. It will enable local governments to identify cases of puppy farming through improved visibility of pet registrations and transfers and breeders across Western Australia. Regulations are being drafted to enact the Stop Puppy Farming reforms, which introduce mandatory registration of dog breeders, transition pet shops to adoption centres, and introduces mandatory sterilisation of dogs from two years of age, unless exempt or already registered. RSPCA WA worked with the State Government on the laws with the registration system set to launch in 2025. Executive manager of animal and enforcement operations Hannah Dreaver said the centralised system would give RSPCA WA inspectors greater oversight of breeding practices in WA and improve traceability of the dogs they are dealing with. “The system will assist RSPCA inspectors and the broader community in identifying cases of puppy farming to ideally put a stop to the cruel practice,” she said. “Puppy farming comes with a plethora of welfare concerns including dogs and puppies not being able to access basic needs like food and water, overcrowding, lack of socialisation with people and other dogs, and lack of proper vet care. “The breeding practices also pose major welfare concerns for mother dogs with many being bred too young and for too long.” The four key pillars of the new legislation include dogs being de-sexed unless they are legally exempt, a centralised register for people who wish to breed their dogs, and pet shops which sell dogs only permitted to source their animals from approved rescue groups. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said this was an important milestone in the protection of pets in WA. “Awarding this contract for PetsWA is another positive step forward as the Cook Government continues to implement our landmark Stop Puppy Farming reforms,” she said. “This is another milestone in the work we’re doing — you can do your bit too by choosing to adopt, don’t shop from your local shelter.”