The RSPCA is proposing significant changes to dog welfare regulations in Tasmania, including a ban on puppy farms, as part of a comprehensive review by the state government.
The animal welfare organisation is calling for the introduction of a maximum limit of 10 breeding dogs at any one facility and a limit of four litters in a dog’s lifetime.
RSPCA CEO Andrea Dawkins said these changes would ensure that Tasmania has the strongest dog welfare standards in the country.
“This review is a generational opportunity for Tasmania to turn its broken laws and regulations into nation-leading standards of animal welfare,” she said.
“We must do everything we can to ensure we do not see another Tasmanian Labradoodles puppy farm arise in Tasmania.”
“As I said when we shut down Tasmanian Labradoodles, we must take action to ban puppy farms, introduce mandatory registration of breeders and enforce a code of practice for breeders and facilities.”
Currently, there is no limit on the number of female breeding dogs at a facility in Tasmania.
The RSPCA is also proposing setting a limit of four litters per female in their lifetime, a minimum breeding age of 18 months and a maximum age of six years.
In addition to these measures, the organisation is urging the government to mandate the registration of breeders and enforce a Code of Practice that would give breeders an identification number.
“This will ensure the RSPCA, councils and Biosecurity Tasmania know exactly who breeding what and where to boost monitoring, compliance and inspections capabilities,” Dawkins said.
