Puppy Farms & Backyard Breeders

1. Puppy Farms

Puppy farms exist to supply pet shops with a cheap ready source of animals. Pet shops are the public face of puppy farms, and people who buy puppies from pet shops are supporting this cruel trade. Next time you see puppies in a pet shop, as yourself ‘where did they come from?’, ‘where is their mother?’.

In puppy farms the ‘breeding stock’ are kept permanently caged. They are never walked or cuddled, and will never know the comforts of a family or home. They are merely there to serve a purpose, and as soon as they stop producing litters they are destroyed.

It is ‘best practice’ to spend the least amount of money for the highest return. Dogs are fed three times a week (usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday), even when pregnant, and any sick dogs are either killed or simply left to die. The known puppy farms on the Victorian and NSW border provide the animals with little food, shelter or warmth, and many die from neglect or exposure. It was recently uncovered that one puppy farm is using electric fences to prevent dogs from escaping their prison.

Two dogs on a puppy farm in Victoria Australia.As soon as the puppies reach six weeks of age they are taken from their mothers to be sold through pet shops. They are usually unsocialised, and many are sick. The latter will often be killed by pet shop owners as it is cheaper than seeking veterinary treatment.

 It is very important to remember that both the puppy farm and pet shop are businesses. Businesses only make a profit if they spend less than the money they have coming in. Unfortunately this is prioritised over the health, happiness and welfare of the animal. Pet shops are the public face of puppy farms and if you purchase a puppy from a pet shop you will be responsible for the continuation of this cruel practice.

2. Backyard Breeders

Backyard breeders are defined as people who breed animals indiscriminately without any appreciation or concern for breed standards, genetics, the animal’s health or socialisation. Animals are sold through classified sites, the internet and pet shops. There are currently a great many authorities actively involved in trying to prevent backyard breeding including councils, the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, and police.

Backyard breeders place an enormous burden on animal welfare organisations and councils. Closing down a single breeder can fill (and effectively close) an entire shelter with animals often requiring intensive veterinary care and socialisation. Councils invest a great deal of time, money and other resources into managing these animals, addressing noise complaints and investigating violations of the Companion Animals Act and public health regulations.

Backyard breeders are very visible within the community. They generally have a large number of animals who are neglected and poorly managed, and as a result is a source of neighbourhood disputes. Their existence is often brought to the relevant authority’s attention due to public health concerns, noise pollution and animal cruelty or neglect.

Backyard breeders are the primary supplier of kittens to pet shops. If you purchase a kitten from a pet shop you will be responsible for the continuation of this cruel practice.