Shadow Environment Minister Michelle Lensink will today introduce legislation in Parliament’s Legislative Council to minimise exploitative “puppy farms” and reduce the large number of companion animals euthanised each year by shelters.
Shadow Environment Minister Michelle Lensink will today introduce legislation in Parliament’s Legislative Council to minimise exploitative “puppy farms” and reduce the large number of companion animals euthanised each year by shelters.
Last month, the State Liberals announced that they would introduce the Animal Welfare (Companion Animals) Amendment Bill 2014.
This Bill will act on a number of recommendations from the Select Committee on Dogs and Cats as Companion Animals, which reported to Parliament in July last year, and includes measures such as:
- Registration and licensing of breeders;
- Compulsory vaccination, worming and micro-chipping of companion animals prior to sale;
- Introduction of an enforceable standard for breeding of companion animals; and,
- Requirements that sales only be purchased from registered breeders with a cooling off period.
Animal shelters can be exempt from certain rules, such as prohibiting the sale of animals bred in puppy farms, because shelters often re-home such animals.
“The State Liberals have listened to South Australians who have expressed their concerns and outrage over puppy farm operations and have acted by drafting this legislation for Parliament to consider,” said Shadow Environment Minister Michelle Lensink.
“It is disappointing that the Weatherill Labor Government has so far failed to act on the findings of the Select Committee’s Report.
“However, this is a bipartisan issue and I am hopeful that the Weatherill Labor Government will support this legislation.”
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