Exemption dog training organisations
Governor in Council exemption for Guides Dogs Victoria and Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs from the requirements of a domestic animal business and from the requirements of section 96 of the Domestic Animals Act, 1994. This exemption is effective of when printed in the Government Gazette on 21 March 2013.
This means that Guide Dogs Victoria and Vision Australia Seeing Guide Dogs are exempt from having to comply with the requirements of being a domestic animal business, under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, including the related mandatory code of practice. It also allows the organisations to sell animals from their premises even though they are neither a private residence or a domestic animal business.
This exemption was provided by virtue of their full membership to the International Guide Dog Federation which requires strict management and care of breeding dogs and their offspring as well as international auditing and reporting.
This exemption is maintained on the basis of several conditions. Both organisations must:
- maintain full membership of the International Guide Dog Federation
- sell only dogs that are in excess of training needs or who are unsuitable as guide dogs
- ensure that aggressive, anti-social and dogs with known nuisance behaviours, such as excessive barking, are not made available for sale
- ensure that all dogs given away or sold are wormed, vaccinated (with a current vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian), and microchipped.
- provide the Minister for Agriculture with the organisation's annual report and a report detailing all sales of guide dogs
515, G 11, Victoria Government Gazette
Domestic Animals Act 1994
APPROVAL TO EXEMPT GUIDE DOG TRAINING ORGANISATIONS
I, Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, acting under section 7(2) of the Domestic Animals Act 1994, approve Guide Dogs Victoria and Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs for the purpose of exempting owners from liability for an offence under this Act in respect of the dogs which are being trained by the organisations.
This approval replaces the Approval of Guide Dog Training Organisations made on 14 March 1996 and published in the Victorian Government Gazette G14 11 April 1996 p. 877.
Dated 7 March 2013
Responsible Minister:
PETER WALSH MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
626, G 12, Victoria Government Gazette
Domestic Animals Act 1994
EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN GUIDE DOG ORGANISATIONS FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF A DOMESTIC ANIMAL BUSINESS
Order in Council
The Governor in Council under section 5 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994
('the Act') exempts each of Guide Dogs Victoria and Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs from the requirements of a domestic animal business and section 96 ('offence to sell certain animals outside certain places') of the Act, provided each organisation meets and continues to meet the following conditions –
(a) maintain full membership of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
(b) sell only dogs that are in excess of the training need or unsuitable guide dogs, being dogs that have been withdrawn from the training program for failing to meet the required health and performance standards
(c) ensure that aggressive, anti-social dogs or dogs with known vices, such as excessive barking or habitual escapees, must not be made available for sale. No dog suspected of being sick, injured or diseased may be sold. No dog with a potentially life threatening defect that is apparent at the time may be sold. Dogs with a defect that does not significantly affect the quality of life of the dog can be made available for sale; this decision must be made by a veterinary practitioner and brought to the attention of the prospective owner prior to sale
(d) ensure that all dogs sold or given away are wormed and have a current vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian stating that the animal has been vaccinated in accordance with the instruction of the manufacturers of the vaccine administered. Puppies must be vaccinated at least eight days prior to sale. The vaccination certificate must indicate the next date for further vaccination and any obvious physical defects
(e) ensure that all dogs sold or given away are implanted with a permanent identification device. Any advertisement of a dog for sale must include the unique number contained in the microchip contained in the permanent identification device implanted in the dog, unless the dog is the subject of written veterinary advice that the health of the dog is liable to be significantly prejudiced if it is implanted with a permanent identification device
(f) deliver to the Minister each year the organisation's annual report and a detailed report regarding all sales of guide dogs
This exemption comes into effect on the date published in the Government Gazette.
Dated 19 March 2013
Responsible Minister:
PETER WALSH MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
MATTHEW McBEATH
Clerk of the Executive Council