Puppy farm legislation

Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Act 2017

The Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farm and Pet Shops) Act 2017 (the PFPS Act) passed the Victorian Parliament on 15 December 2017 and is now in operation.

• The PFPS Act was introduced to Parliament following a Parliamentary Inquiry and feedback from members of the general public, veterinary groups, animal welfare organisations, rescue organisations, local councils, dog and cat breeders, pet shops and representative groups.

Video transcript

The amendments to the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (Act) deliver on the government's election commitment to reform the dog breeding and pet shop industries in Victoria and better regulate the sale of dogs and cats.

The PFPS Act amends the Act to:

• limit the number of fertile female dogs breeders can keep
• restrict pet shops to selling dogs and cats sourced from shelters, pounds or enrolled foster carers*
• clarify the role of foster carers
• define 'recreational breeders' and 'microbreeders'
• confirm the definition of 'farm working dogs'
• introduce the animal sale permit system
• improve traceability of cats and dogs through the establishment of the Pet Exchange Register**
• strengthen pet advertisement offences

*Note, relevant sections commenced on 1 July 2018

**Note, relevant section commences on 1 July 2019

Breeding and selling animals

Applications and permits to breed and sell animals in accordance with legal obligations are available:

• Commercial dog breeder application
• Obtain an animal sale permit
• Apply to become a declared bird organisation

Fact sheets

Below are a range of fact sheets and infographics, which contain additional detail about the Act.

• About the PFPS Act [PDF File - 258.8 KB]
• About the PFPS Act [MS Word Document - 1017.0 KB]
• Pet shops [PDF File - 247.6 KB]
• Pet shops [MS Word Document - 1016.7 KB]
• Dogs Victoria [PDF File - 337.9 KB]
• Dogs Victoria [MS Word Document - 1019.2 KB]
• Cat applicable organisations [PDF File - 335.0 KB]
• Cat applicable organisations [MS Word Document - 1014.3 KB]
• Commercial breeders [PDF File - 403.1 KB]
• Commercial breeders [MS Word Document - 1019.4 KB]
• Animal sale permit [PDF File - 251.3 KB]
• Animal sale permit [MS Word Document - 1019.8 KB]
• Declared bird organisations [PDF File - 328.8 KB]
• Declared bird organisations [MS Word Document - 1016.2 KB]
• Working dogs [PDF File - 244.3 KB]
• Working dogs [MS Word Document - 1016.1 KB]
• Community foster care networks [PDF File - 251.6 KB]
• Community foster care networks [MS Word Document - 1015.6 KB]
• Foster carers [PDF File - 356.7 KB]
• Foster carers [MS Word Document - 1.0 MB]
• Dog training organisations [PDF File - 329.2 KB]
• Dog training organisations [MS Word Document - 1013.3 KB]

Infographics

• Farm working dogs [PDF File - 294.6 KB]
• Farm working dogs [MS Word Document - 805.9 KB]
• What needs to be in advertisements for cats and dogs? [PDF File - 551.9 KB]
• What needs to be in advertisements for cats and dogs [MS Word Document - 809.9 KB]
• Do I need to register as a breeding domestic animal business? [PDF File - 572.0 KB]
• Do I need to register as a breeding animal business [MS Word Document - 809.1 KB]
• Do I need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register [PDF File - 648.1 KB]
• Do I need a source number from the Pet Exchange Register [MS Word Document - 809.3 KB]
• Animal sale permits [PDF File - 405.7 KB]
• Animal sale permits [MS Word Document - 809.7 KB]
• Bird sales [PDF File - 262.9 KB]
• Bird sales [MS Word Document - 808.9 KB]