A dog breeder aiming to establish a facility for 150 puppies in the vicinity of Bendigo, Central Victoria, has retracted their application following opposition from local farmers and animal welfare activists.
Critics have labeled the proposed facility as “extraordinary” and highlighted ethical concerns surrounding its operation. The breeder would have needed a special exemption from the minister to maintain more than ten breeding dogs.
The application for the dog breeding site in Elphinstone was submitted to the Mount Alexander Shire Council in April and included plans to operate around the clock, housing various breeds such as corgis, golden retrievers, and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Notably, the proposal mentioned that it would involve “scheduled caesarean sections at specialized veterinary clinics.”
Georgie Purcell, an Animal Justice MP representing Northern Victoria, criticized the plan as highly intrusive. “This would have imposed significant physical strain on the animals due to continuous surgeries,” she remarked. “The recovery time is extensive and could lead to lasting health issues. It appears to be motivated by profit, aimed at ensuring the survival of puppies for sale.”
The application also suggested the use of artificial insemination, which Deb Tranter, founder of the anti-puppy farm organization Oscar’s Law, described as invasive and unprecedented in her 34 years of investigating puppy farms.
The ABC reached out to the applicant for a response. On Wednesday afternoon, Mount Alexander Shire confirmed the withdrawal of the application.
In 2017, the Victorian government enacted laws aimed at eradicating puppy farms. However, the agriculture minister can still provide exemptions to allow breeders to maintain between ten and fifty female dogs.
Ms. Purcell expressed concerns that these exemptions have become too accessible and mentioned that she knows of at least ten puppy farms operating with more than ten female dogs in Victoria. “These exemptions give breeders a false sense of legitimacy, while in reality, they contradict the spirit of the original legislation,” she stated.
She advocates for legislative changes to limit breeders to a maximum of ten dogs and emphasizes that consumers may not fully understand the realities of breeding facilities.
In a separate case, another breeder has submitted an application to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, located about an hour from Elphinstone, seeking permission to keep twenty dogs at once, consisting of ten adults and ten puppies.
Many residents mistakenly believe puppy farms have been outlawed. According to Ms. Tranter, the frequent changes in ministers and a lack of awareness regarding the original legislative intentions have led to the emergence of loopholes that puppy farms exploit.
Tom Walters, a wool grower whose 3,000-head sheep farm is adjacent to the proposed puppy facility, voiced his concerns. He highlighted potential issues related to noise, the breeding of his sheep, waste management, and road traffic. “Our primary worry is the ethical, environmental, and economic repercussions this could have on our operations,” he stated. “I can identify eight neighbors who would be directly affected by the incessant barking from hundreds of dogs.”
The state government has been approached for comments regarding the situation.
