If Victorians want to speak out against puppy factories they should email submissions to animal.welfare@depi.vic.gov.au which must be in by 9am next Wednesday, 14 August.
RSPCA would like to see the end of intensive breeding facilities for our companion animals, however, in the absence of government legislating to close them down, we should – at a minimum -have good welfare standards as mandatory codes. This latest draft of the code for breeding establishments (puppy factories) has worse standards than the previous draft in May 2013. Until 9am 14 August you have the opportunity to provide feedback. The government needs to hear the communities voice on this issue.
“The Vic Government is proposing an animal welfare disaster. Instead of honouring its election promise to clamp down on places that factory farm companion animals, it is doing the opposite, by legalising appalling conditions.
– Operator can legally have 500 animals in its care and not a single staff member rostered on overnight, when most dogs will give birth
– No controls on how animals can be killed – hitting them on the head or shooting them will be fine
– Working dogs can be kept on raised wire floors with no solid floor
– Factory operator will decide if an animal is fit for sale, not a vet
– Purchasers will only have three days to return an animal with behavioural issues
– No maximum breeding age or maximum number of families per animal
– Incestual breeding allowed
– Breeding from animals with hereditable defects, like hip dysplasia allowed
– Dogs allowed to be tethered
– No temperature controls.Summary of points of concern:
http://www.rspcavic.org/issues-take-action/puppy-factories/Please make a submission against the proposed Code. If it passes, tens of thousands of dogs and cats will be legally bred to death, in appalling conditions.
Please share with others.”
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Sounds as though there should be some discussion here Dr Napthine.
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