Puppy and kitten farm laws target wrong people, says cat breeder

The State Government is proposing to amend the Domestic Animals Act to stop puppy and kitten farms and protect the welfare of animals, but not everyone is happy.

Pet shops will be banned from selling puppies and kittens, unless the animals have come from a registered pound, animal shelter or foster carer, by 2017.

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A state register will be set up to make it easier for councils to determine whether they should approve or renew a domestic animal business application, or whether it will breach restrictions on co-registration.

Liz Wilkinson, who has five cats, said currently, if a breeder had eight or fewer fertile female cats, they did not have to register to be a domestic animal breeder.

But under the new rules, that number would be reduced to three breeding cats, male or female, and allow hobbyists to register as domestic animal breeders, she said.

“Sixty per cent of cat breeders in Victoria are in residential zones, and there is no way councils will allow a domestic animal business in a residential zone,” Ms Wilkinson said.

She said as part of the plan, breeders would be required to have their personal details on the registry and the Government would be able to inspect breeders’ properties, even when the resident was not home.

“They’re targeting the wrong people. They’re targeting registered breeders when trying to stop puppy and kitten mills,” she said.

Coldstream Animal Aid chief executive Mark Menze said the organisation fully supported the move to stop puppy farms.

He said Animal Aid looked forward to more action around compliance and enforcement of breaches in animal protection laws.