DOG AMENDMENT (STOP PUPPY
FARMING) BILL 2020
190. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Dog Amendment (Stop
Puppy Farming) Bill 2020.
(1) What evidence
or method of justification did the government use when making its decision to
limit the number of bitches a breeder may have to five, and why was that
settled on as an appropriate number?
(2) The
submissions tabled to the government's working group contained
extensive expert veterinary evidence against a mandatory blanket sterilisation
policy. Evidence has suggested that for larger, later maturing breeds,
sterilisation before 24 months of age can cause long-term physical and
psychological harm to the animal. Why then has the government chosen to ignore
this expert advice and impose a blanket sterilisation policy?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some
notice of the question.
(1) The Dog
Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill 2020 does not limit the number of bitches
that a breeder may have. The member's question relates to the Animal
Welfare Act's breeding standards and guidelines, which is a matter for
the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
(2) The
government took into consideration the expert advice provided and, as a result,
will not require dogs to be sterilised until they are two years of age.
Additionally, a dog is exempt from sterilisation if a veterinarian provides a certificate
stating that sterilisation would adversely affect the health or welfare of the
dog.