Dog Breeder Registration FAQs.
Where is the puppy farm legislation up to?
The Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill was passed by
Parliament on 12 May 2016 and received assent on 25 May 2016 to become the Animal
Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Act 2016.
When does this law come into effect?
The legislation will commence on proclamation. However a date has yet to be set. The dog breeder
registration system and supporting frameworks must be finalised before it can commence.
However the legislation must commence by 26 May 2017.
What do I do if my bitch is already pregnant when the laws commence?
Once the laws commence you will be required to register as a breeder 28 days after your
bitch giving birth.
Backyard breeder
I have a litter or two of puppies a year and am not a breeder or puppy farm, it’s more of
a hobby – am I considered a breeder?
Yes. The registration applies to all dog breeders
Do I need to register – my puppies are well looked after and in a safe environment?
Yes. The registration applies to all dog breeders.
Can I still sell my puppies if I’m not registered (private- pet shops – on-line)?
No. You must register and include your breeder registration number when you sell, advertise, give
away or otherwise supply a dog to another person.
Will pet shops sell my puppies if I’m not registered?
No. The pet shop must display your breeder registration number when selling, advertising or
otherwise supply your puppies.
What happens if I sell my puppies and I’m not registered, is there a fine?
There are a number of offences for failing to register, selling, advertising or otherwise supplying
your puppies to another person.
I only want to breed one litter so I can keep one of the puppies – can I get an
exemption?
No. The registration applies to all dog breeders
I don’t sell my puppies but breed them for family and friends – is this still ok?
Yes, but you still must register as a dog breeder
My dog has had an unplanned litter (unplanned pregnancy) - do I have to register?
Yes. You must register as a dog breeder within 28 days of your bitch giving birth (whelping).
What is the scope of the breeder registration?
The legislation sets out a state-wide breeder registration system for all dog breeders to help track
puppy farms and other dog breeders who are not doing the right thing so that any animal welfare
issues can be addressed under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
Who will need to register?
Any person who breeds a dog will need to register, unless exempt. The person needing to register
would generally be the owner of the dog.
Exemptions apply to breeders of genuine working dogs and breeders accredited by an approved
entity.
Pounds and shelters which are likely to come into possession of pregnant females or abandoned
puppies also need to be registered.
Why is the legislation different from the Labor’s election commitment?
The election commitment proposed a compulsory registration scheme for dog breeders
who hold 20 dogs or more. However, there is as much potential for animal cruelty in
circumstances where breeders have fewer than 20 dogs. The survey in AugustSeptember 2015 and stakeholder consultation indicated strong public support for a more
inclusive registration scheme.
In other respects, the legislation matches the election commitment.
Why does every breeder have to register when we are only interested in puppy
farms?
It’s important for every breeder (except for those exempt such as genuine working dog
breeders) to be registered, including people who give away puppies. This is crucial to
help track down breeders who have failed to register and are illegally advertising and
supplying puppies and thereby removes any potential loopholes for unscrupulous
breeders to try and exploit.
What about Dogs Queensland members?
Organisations that accredit breeders, such as Dogs Queensland, are able to apply to be a
“Approved Entity” which, if approved, will exempt it’s members from registration.
The organisation needs to meet certain criteria to help ensure the integrity of their accreditation
scheme provides the same traceability as the state-wide breeder registration. For example,
providing information about accredited breeders to the Department, and making relevant details
such as accredited breeder numbers publicly available so that people purchasing puppies can
confirm they are accredited by the organisation.
What is the meaning of an ‘approved entity’ under the registration system?
An approved entity is an dog breeder organisation or local government that has entered
into an agreement with the Department to provide information on breeders and make
relevant details publicly available. The organisation must be prescribed by regulation.
This means that breeders accredited with the organisation (approved entity) won’t need
to register under the state wide breeder registration. But they will need to provide their
accreditation number (provided by their organisation) in any advertisements and when
supplying a puppy.
What about working dogs?
Genuine working dogs are exempt from the registration system. To be exempt, a breeder must be
breeding from a working dog and the puppies they supply must be used as working dogs. A
working dog is defined under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and covers dogs
usually kept by primary producers on rural land, primarily for droving, protecting and working
stock.
What is a working dog?
working dog—
(a) means a dog usually kept or proposed to be kept—
(i) on rural land; and
(ii) by an owner who is a primary producer, or a person engaged or employed by a primary
producer; and
(iii) primarily for the purpose of—
(A) droving, protecting, tending, or working, stock; or
(B) being trained in droving, protecting, tending, or working, stock; and
(b) does not include a class of dog prescribed under a regulation.
Does the RSPCA support the new legislation?
RSPCA Qld is very supportive of the new legislation.
RSPCA Qld are assisting Biosecurity Queensland to promote the new legislation and develop a
communication and compliance strategy for the breeder registration and compulsory animal
welfare standards.
Who will administer the breeder registration system?
The state wide dog breeder registration will be established and administered by the Queensland
Government. However local governments will be responsible for ensuring compliance within their
areas.
How will I be able to register as a breeder?
There will be a simple and quick-to-complete online registration system on the DAF website.
Online self-registration is quicker and more efficient than paper base processes and will be the
preferred method of registration. However a phone-based registration process will be available to
those unable to register online. To ensure breeder details are up-to-date the registration must be
renewed annually and any changes to breeder details must be updated within 7 days of the
change.
What will registration cost?
No breeder registration fees will be charged until July 2018. This is to encourage registration and
compliance with the legislation.
Registration fees may be introduced after July 2018; however there will be public consultation
before registration fees are introduced.
What can I do to help shut down cruel puppy farms?
Public awareness and involvement are crucial in stopping cruel puppy farms. Educating people to
only accept dogs that are accompanied by a supply number will help to identify puppy farms, so
that action can be taken to eliminate cruel breeding practices.
The support of the public is essential to help identify unscrupulous dog breeders who have failed to
register. This gives puppy farms nowhere to hide - because they won’t be able to sell or supply a
puppy without being registered and their details recorded against the puppy’s microchip.
Members of the public who become aware of an unregistered breeder or a person advertising or
selling a puppy without a breeder number are encouraged to report the matter to either the RSPCA
or the relevant local government.
What is a supply number?
The supply number can be:
a breeder ID number,
an accreditation number (from an approved entity),
a unique number that identifies a person as a recognized interstate breeder,
an exemption number.
Microchipping – what is involved?
The breeder identification number will be included in the dog’s microchip information. This is
crucial to being able to trace back a puppy to the breeder and identify any unscrupulous breeders.
Mandatory microchipping already applies to most dogs from 12 weeks of age or when supplied (if
earlier). Certain dogs such as genuine working dogs are already, and will continue to be, exempt
from microchipping.
What about the mandatory breeder standards?
Biosecurity Queensland is working with the RSPCA Qld, Dogs Queensland and Queensland Racing
Integrity Commission to develop the draft animal welfare standards and guidelines for breeding
dogs and their progeny (Standards). A number of key animal welfare issues, including maximum
number of litters, will be considered during this process. Once finalised the Standards will be
adopted as compulsory under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. This means that all dog
breeders in Queensland, including working dogs, must comply with the Standards.
Will the Standards mean more regulation of dog breeders?
The compulsory Standards will complement the existing provisions for cruelty and duty of care
under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACPA).
The standards may mean that some breeders may need to review their practices to ensure they
are meeting the standards. The standards are the minimum expected animal welfare requirements
for breeding dogs. It is likely that most reputable breeders will already be meeting the standards;
however those unscrupulous breeders and puppy farm breeders are likely not to be meeting the
standards.
What are Local Governments expected to do under this scheme?
Local governments are responsible for regulating the registration and identification of dogs within
their areas under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.
Biosecurity Queensland is working with local governments and the RSPCA to develop a compliance
framework and education strategy for the breeder registration system and Standards.
Local governments, the RSPCA and Biosecurity Queensland will work in partnership under the
Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, local laws and Animal Care and Protection Act
2001 to stop cruel puppy farms and unscrupulous breeders.
Why isn’t the sale of dogs through pet shops being banned?
This Government believes that provided pet shops comply with the Animal Care and Protection Act
2001 puppies can be safely sold through pet shops.
Animals in pet shops are highly visible to the general public and animal welfare concerns are
generally reported to the RSPCA very quickly.
To further safeguard the welfare of pets sold through pet shops and to help stop the sourcing of
dogs from puppy farms, the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) has introduced a Dog’s
Lifetime Guarantee Policy on Traceability and Re-homing. This initiative provides guarantees that
dogs purchased from PIAA member retail stores are sourced from approved breeders who have
been independently audited by a veterinarian each year. The policy also guarantees that any dog
purchased from a PIAA member that is subsequently abandoned by its owner will be re-homed
How can I make a complaint about an unregistered breeder?
As a member of the public you can do your bit to shut down cruel puppy farms by reporting any
dog breeder or supplier who is not doing the right thing.
You can report an unregistered breeder or a person supplying a puppy without a breeder number
by contacting the RSPCA on 1300 264 625, Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or your relevant
local government.
You are able to report a cruel puppy farm or an unscrupulous dog breeder to the RSPCA on 1300
264 625 or Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
The dog breeder registration also provides a complaint referral function. This allows the public to
enter a complaint online and it is automatically referred to the relevant enforcement agency for
action.
Why aren’t cat breeders required to register?
Animal welfare groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the increasing number of puppy farms
in Queensland, however, there have been significantly fewer concerns regarding the number of
kitten mills. In contrast there are concerns regarding the number of unwanted kittens being born
due to cats that have not been de-sexed. Cat breeder registration was therefore not part of the
election commitment and registering cat breeders would be unlikely to address these concerns.
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Dog Breeder regulations in Queensland
Background
Dog breeding in Queensland has a variety of positive social and economic impacts. Dogs are bred
in Queensland to fill the market need for household pets, for sports and recreation activities, for
protective services, and for assisted care situations such guide dogs. They are valuable to our
community and way of life.
The welfare of domesticated dogs in our community is governed by the Animal Care and Protection
Act 2001 which applies a set of welfare standards for the treatment of all cats and dogs and the
duty of care required of pet owners and breeders.
On 12 May 2016 the Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment
Bill 2016 (Bill) was passed by Parliament and received assent on 25 May 2016 to become the
Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Act 2016.
This new legislation puts in place measures that ensure cruel puppy farms will no longer go
undetected in Queensland.
The new legislation will commence on proclamation. However a date has yet to be set. The dog
breeder registration system and supporting frameworks must be finalised before it can commence.
However the legislation must commence by 26 May 2017.
Puppy Farms
A puppy farm is any dog breeder, regardless of the number of dogs they have, who places profits
above the welfare of their animals by housing or keeping dogs in conditions that fail to meet the
dog’s behavioural, social, psychological and physical needs
The Legislation and Regulations
On 12 May 2016 the Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment
Bill 2016 (Bill) was passed by Parliament and received assent on 25 May 2016 to become the
Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Act 2016.
This new legislation puts in place measures that ensure cruel puppy farms will no longer go
undetected in Queensland.
Once the new legislation commences dog breeders in Queensland will be required to:


Register for a dog breeder identification number and then display their breeder ID when
advertising dogs for sale, exchange or give away.
Record their breeder ID against the microchip details of dogs they breed allowing a dog to
be traced back to their breeder.
Exemptions
Primary producers who breed genuine working dogs to supply to other primary producers as
genuine working dogs are exempt from registration. However if the primary producer supplies the
dog for purposes other than as genuine working dog they must apply for an exemption number for
each individual dog or alternatively register as a breeder.
Accredited breeders of approved entities are also exempt from the registration scheme. Members
of approved entities will still need to display their accredited breeder number when supplying dogs
and have their number recorded against the dog's microchip information.
The Consultation
The Queensland Government’s public consultation on puppy farming and dog breeding in
Queensland closed on 6 September 2015. More than 8,300 people completed the survey. The
consultation looked at a range of strategies to protect puppies and safeguard the welfare of dogs
kept or used for breeding in Queensland and engaged members of the public and key stakeholder
groups.
Features
Dog Breeder Registration FAQs
DAF website
Media Release - 16/02/2016
Contacts
Greg McDougall on 0407 742 392 or email via Phoenix
Ian Rodger on 07 53811325 of email via Phoenix
Media Contacts
Robyn Dowdle on 3087 8574 or email media through phoenix
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