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

Community Foster Care Networks and Rescue Organisations

1. What is the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farm and Pet Shops) Act 2017?

2. When are Changes coming into effect?

3. Voluntary foster carer scheme

4. Foster care vs. Domestic Animal Businesses

5. Animal Sale Permits

6. Pet Exchange Register

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Contents

Key Changes:

• New definitions: Recreational Breeders, Microbreeders

• Limit of fertile females dogs to 10 with Council approval alone

• Ministerial approval of commercial breeding with up to 50 fertile female dogs

• Pet shops only able to source animals from approved sources

• New applicable organisation and approved obedience training provisions

• New advertising provisions

• New enforcement provisions

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New Schemes:

• Foster Carers

• Animal Sale Permits

• Declared Bird Organisations

• Pet Exchange Register

What is the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Act 2017?

Timing

Voluntary foster care scheme begins 10 April 2018

Animal Sale Permit scheme begins 10 April 2018

Pet Shop Changes 1 July 2018

Pet Exchange Register 1 July 2019

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Timing for changes

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VoluntaryFoster Carer Scheme

• Voluntary registration with council for individuals as a foster carer

• Benefits:− Reduced registration rate on cats and dogs− Ability to provide dogs and cats to pet shops

• Not a registration scheme for Community Foster Care Networks

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What is the new voluntary foster carer scheme?

The scheme is voluntary for individual foster carers

The requirement to register all dogs and cats with council over three months of age has not changed

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Do I have to register as a foster carer?

Do I have to register dogs or cats in foster care?

• Council may charge a fee to apply

• Each council may have a different form, and request different information.

• There may be individual conditions

• Council do not have to approve all foster carer applications

• Registrations can be suspended

• Registration lasts for 1 year, and is tied to the animal registration period of 10 April – 9 April

• From 1 July 2019 – registered foster carers will receive a source number form the Pet Exchange Register

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What happens if I enrol as a foster carer with council?

• No change to the status of Community Foster Care Networks

• Community Foster Care Networks cannot register as an organisation with council

• Does not affect any contracts already in place between a Community Foster Care Network and its foster carers

• Community Foster Care Networks can use theirown source number

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Foster carer scheme and Community Foster Care Networks

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Foster care

vs.

Domestic Animal Businesses

• If keeping over five dogs and/or cats (adult equivalent) in foster care, you must register as a shelter.

• Adult equivalent means:− A dog or cat over 16 weeks old− A female dog or cat with her litter, where the litter is

under 8 weeks old− The litter of a dog or cat between the ages of 8

weeks and 16 weeks

• Shelter must meet the relevant planning permits and abide by the Code of Practice for the Management of Cats and Dogs in Shelters or Pounds

• You can be both a shelter and a Community Foster Care Network11

Foster carer vs. Shelter

• New definition of rearer – “an enterprise which rears or keeps dogs (other than GRV greyhounds) or cats for:o the purpose of profit or saleo a fee or for exchange of services”

• Rearer must register as a domestic animal business and comply with the Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Businesses 2014

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Foster carer vs. Rearer

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Authorised Officers

Authorised officers cannot:• Enter a foster carer’s residential property without a

search warranto Authorised officers must apply to a magistrate to

receive a warrant

Authorised officers may:• Enter and search a premises (not residential) if they

suspect a domestic animal business is being conducted without a warrant.

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Animal Sale Permits

• New scheme to allow for animal sales to occur outside of a registered domestic animal business or private residence

• Only sales that uphold animal welfare will be approved. Car boot sales will not be approved.

• Will allow for groups to undertake adoption days rather than just adoption awareness days

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What are Animal Sale Permits?

Are you selling: Are you selling from:

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Do I need an Animal Sale Permit?

Dogs

Cats

Rabbits

Guineapigs

Mice

Reptiles

Caged birds

A council registered domestic animal business (i.e. shelter, pound or pet shop)

A residential premises

Any other location

Step 1 – A nominated individual from an organisation completes the application form available online

Step 2 – An application must include:• information on the animal accommodation at the place of sale• a copy of the animal care policies and procedures including an

emergency management and evacuation plan• a copy of the agreement with a veterinarian to be on call during the

sale• a copy of the Consumer Sale guarantee• the application fee.

Step 3 – Send the application to the Minister for Agriculture

Step 4 – If approved, the Minister for Agriculture will provide the animal sale permit to the applicant.

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How do I apply for an Animal Sale Permit?

• Each permit must specify:o the animals that may be soldo the day in which the sale can take placeo the place at which the sale can take placeo any other conditions

• The relevant council will be informed of the sale, and be given a copy of the permit.

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What will be on a permit?

• Must ensure that the following conditions are met:o all animals have access to clean drinking water at all times

o all animals have adequate protection from adverse weather

o the sale guarantee is honoured

o any further conditions imposed on the individual permit

• The permit holder is responsible for the sale event. If something goes wrong, the permit holder is liable

• The permit holder must give access to a council authorised officer or RSPCA authorised officer if they request to inspect the place of sale.

• Council or RSPCA inspectors can immediately cease the sale event if they believe that there is an animal welfare risk.

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What happens during the sale event?

• The holder of the permit must submit a report within 28 days of the sale

• A sample report is available online

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What do I need to do after the sale event?

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Pet Exchange Register

• Limited public facing database

• Authorised officers will be able to see all information

• Will provide source numbers for advertising

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What is the Pet Exchange Register?

• Registered foster carers will automatically be registered

• Community Foster Care Networks will need to self-register if selling in Victoria

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Do I need to register on the Pet Exchange Register?

Which source number is used on advertisements?

• The advertiser must use their own source number

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Questions?

Contact us:

pet.welfare@ecodev.vic.gov.auwww.animalwelfare.vic.gov.au