tag:theconversation.com,2011:/africa/topics/puppy-farms-1480/articlesPuppy farms – The Conversation2022-02-10T14:45:14Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1739612022-02-10T14:45:14Z2022-02-10T14:45:14ZFive top tips to consider before getting a canine companion<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/444588/original/file-20220204-17-1sqb9gi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dog-travel-by-car-nova-scotia-1420663709">Jaromir Chalabala/shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Are you a cat or dog person? Perhaps you’re both. During the pandemic many people indulged their urge for an animal companion and there was a huge <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-00649-x">increase in dog ownership</a>. </p>
<p>As we move towards spring maybe you’re thinking of taking the leap, and welcoming a dog into your home. Living with a canine friend has many <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.119.005554">positive health benefits</a> – such as a lower risk of heart disease and reducing stress – and they can provide companionship and unconditional love to adults and children alike. But there is so much to think about that it can be overwhelming.</p>
<p>Here are some things to consider to help fully prepare for the exciting journey ahead. After all, the dog will be entirely dependent on you for its wellbeing so it’s important to find the perfect match.</p>
<h2>1. It’s a long commitment</h2>
<p>Dogs live for around <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-reframe-dog-human-aging-comparisons">ten to 15 years</a> on average. They will probably change your life completely and even normal day-to-day activities, such as a spontaneous outing can become more complicated. You’ll have to think about arranging a dog-sitter, or ensure that you can take the dog with you wherever you go. </p>
<p>Dogs are also big money burners, regardless of whether they are big or small. You will have to provide food, equipment (including cold weather clothes), dog-sitters and pay for their medical expenses throughout their life. It could all add up to somewhere between <a href="https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/the-cost-of-owning-a-dog">£50-80 per month</a> for the dog’s upkeep.</p>
<h2>2. They need company</h2>
<p>Dogs need a lot of exercise and play to stay healthy. Generally it is best to spend at least two hours a day actively engaging with your dog, especially walking and playing.</p>
<p>The other issue that needs careful consideration is a dog’s need for company. They are social animals and do not cope well with being left alone for more than five hours a day, often <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787816000216">experiencing separation anxiety</a> when they are left for too long.</p>
<p>When you first bring your new dog home you will need to <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/training/help-your-dog-enjoy-time-alone">gradually habituate</a> them to being alone, so it becomes normal for them. This is done through taking careful <a href="https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/training/leftalone">little steps</a> towards their independence. It can take weeks or months, depending on your dog’s history and age. Some older rescue dogs may take longer to adapt to being alone. But some may adapt more easily than a puppy if they were previously used to being alone (especially once they feel safe in your home).</p>
<h2>3. Socialisation and training needs</h2>
<p>Behavioural problems later on in the owner-dog relationship often <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/beh/155/2-3/article-p83_1.xml?body=fullHtml-33150&language=zh">start at the very beginning</a>. That’s because the early life experiences of a dog determine the likelihood of problematic behaviour in the future.</p>
<p>Puppies (and some rescue dogs) <a href="https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/socialising-your-puppy">have to be socialised</a>, which involves introducing them to numerous people, animals and different situations. Otherwise you can find yourself with a dog that worries a lot and is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60546-w?fbclid=IwAR0U_7CTtnYsAszFPV4JFNjDm6p8ZVylEgf43JviV7O9L8BpyuqVLlLqb88">scared of unknown people</a> and other dogs. That’s a big problem for an animal which has to be taken for exercise twice a day and fit into a human’s busy life.</p>
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<img alt="A group of dogs with their owners at a training class" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=474&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=474&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/444655/original/file-20220206-17-jkm07g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=474&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">A dog training and obedience class can be a great way of socialising your dog.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/group-dogs-owners-obedience-class-304835723">SpeedKingz/shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>If you choose a puppy you’ll also need to train them in basic life skills, such as toilet habits and obedience. For example, they’ll need to learn to come when called and walk on a leash without pulling. This will require a considerable <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/training/">amount of knowledge</a> of their needs and communication methods. Most dogs do not become fully trained until after puberty, so you’ll have to invest in training for at least a full year.</p>
<h2>4. Personality matters</h2>
<p>People often choose dogs based largely on its <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/4/124">physical appearance</a> – but pet owners report more positive attitudes toward their pets when their behaviour complements their own personality traits. For example, dog owners were more satisfied when they perceived their pets as exhibiting a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159110000766">level of warmth</a> that was similar to their own. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/nine-dog-breeds-at-higher-risk-of-heatstroke-and-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-it-139501">Nine dog breeds at higher risk of heatstroke – and what you can do to prevent it</a>
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<p>Certain characteristics have been found to be particularly important in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175303713X13697429463673">successful dog-human matches</a>: the tendency to share possessions, the love of running outside and the ability to get along with others. So, it may well be worth choosing a dog that is your canine double on those factors.</p>
<h2>5. Pedigree or rescue</h2>
<p>Just as with humans, every dog is unique. A dog is born with <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2019.0716">certain character traits</a> that were either needed in the past for survival, or have been bred by humans so the dog could excel in a particular job for our benefit.</p>
<p>Breed is an important factor to consider. For example, some breeds require three to four hours of activity daily, so are probably not a wise choice if you favour lazy days in front of the TV or have limited time due to work or family commitments. Hunting dogs will need firm control if you live in an area with lots of wildlife – or domestic cats.</p>
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<img alt="Dalmation puppies at a breeder" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445511/original/file-20220209-25-mjzhbc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Buying from a responsible breeder is a must.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dalmatian-puppies-breeder-142102312">Dora Zett/shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>These hereditary traits in dogs cannot be erased, so it’s important to do your research on the many <a href="http://www.fci.be/en/Nomenclature/">different breeds</a> and choose a dog that will suit your lifestyle.</p>
<p>Dogs bought from non-commercial breeders might be <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/242/10/javma.242.10.1359.xml">less anxious and less aggressive</a> than those bought in pet shops. Always buy from a responsible breeder and take great care to avoid <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159111003005">illegal puppy farms</a>. Your best bet is to <a href="https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/finding-a-good-breeder/avoiding-puppy-farmers-and-irresponsible-breeders/">find a breeder</a> with a waiting list and who wants to see you at least twice before selling you a puppy.</p>
<p>Alternatively you might decide that a rescue dog, who is already developed and behaviourally assessed, is the best option to ensure you <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10888705.2020.1867985">get a good match</a> – and you’ll be providing a home to a dog in need too. </p>
<p>But if your own dog is not right for you at this time, don’t forget there are other options to full-on dog ownership: consider volunteering at a shelter or asking a neighbour if they need a bit of help with their dog for a few hours a week. That’s a great way to enjoy canine company on a part-time basis.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173961/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Dogs can be hugely rewarding pets - but it’s important to choose the right dog and be well prepared before welcoming one into your home.Ineke van Herwijnen, Junior Assistant Professor in Animal Science and Society, Utrecht UniversityClaudia Vinke, Assistant Professor in Behavioural Biology, Utrecht UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1230132019-12-29T21:01:48Z2019-12-29T21:01:48ZLet it breed: why desexing dogs isn’t always the best thing to do<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/307370/original/file-20191217-164449-1uq186.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Australians mostly want dogs that are affectionate, obedient and safe around families.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">bivoir/Flickr</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>In pet-loving nations such as Australia, nobody likes the idea of dogs churning out litters in squalid conditions or sitting homeless in a shelter. </p>
<p>Responsible dog owners are therefore strongly encouraged to desex their pets, through programs such as <a href="https://ndn.org.au/get-involved/2019-national-desexing-month/">national desexing month</a> and <a href="https://dogshome.com/the-homes-campaigns/if-you-love-them-desex-them">low-cost surgery schemes</a>. In some places in Australia, it is even <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/is-desexing-mandatory-for-cats-and-dogs/">compulsory</a>. </p>
<p>But as we try to limit unwanted dogs, experts estimate there is demand in Australia for nearly <a href="http://ankc.org.au/media/6598/a-forensic-view-of-puppy-breeding-in-australiav4.pdf">half a million new puppies</a> every year. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/managing-mutations-of-a-species-the-evolution-of-dog-breeding-96635">Managing mutations of a species: the evolution of dog breeding</a>
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<p>Many desexed family pets are the ideal parents of the next generation of family companions, having demonstrated their ability to fit in with family life. Yet by desexing as early as possible, we are removing the best source of happy healthy pets from the doggy gene pool.</p>
<p>We argue there’s room for responsible pet owners and breeders to work together, breeding ideal companion animals and reducing the number of unwanted or unsafe dogs left in shelters. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-decisions-to-desex-male-dogs-just-got-more-complicated-95520">Why decisions to desex male dogs just got more complicated</a>
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<h2>We want happy, loyal pups</h2>
<p>People want their dogs to suit their family’s needs: tall or short, short-coated or non-shedding, couch potato or running buddy. We have created hundreds of breeds to meet these preferences. However, Australian pet-owners most value dogs that are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159109001555">affectionate, friendly, obedient and safe with children.</a></p>
<p>Such dogs are a combination of nature and nurture. Most temperament traits in dogs, including <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40101976_Genetic_variation_in_aggression-related_traits_in_Golden_Retriever_dogs">aggression</a>, have a genetic basis. Dogs bred for working roles, such as police work, have physical and behavioural assessments to make sure they can do their jobs well. </p>
<p>If we treat being a happy and safe companion as a job, we need to <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ufaw/aw/2010/00000019/a00102s1/art00003">select breeding dogs with the right characteristics to succeed</a>. This begins with carefully selecting parents who also have these traits. Many dogs who would breed perfect family pets are themselves family pets, and owners have years of observation to rely on. </p>
<p>A puppy’s early life is also extremely important for creating a suitable pet. Raising them in rich environments, with plenty of affection, <a href="https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/vetn.2013.4.6.334">equips puppies with important life-skills</a>. For those destined for companionship, this experience includes regular playtime with humans and exposure to life in a modern household. These requirements highlight the need to consider where dogs come from.</p>
<h2>Professionals, hobbyists or irresponsible owners</h2>
<p>While we don’t have firm data on where Australians get their pets, we can safely assume there are three main sources: commercial breeders, recreational or hobby breeders, and members of the general public who fail to desex their pet dogs.</p>
<p>While new <a href="http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/puppy-farm-legislation">legislation</a> in Victoria targets the worst puppy mills, even the best large-scale commercial operations may struggle to give puppies the attention they need early in life. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/victorias-puppy-farms-and-pet-shop-laws-a-world-first-but-questions-about-ethical-breeding-remain-98947">Victoria's puppy farms and pet shop laws a world first - but questions about 'ethical' breeding remain</a>
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<p>Meanwhile, recreational breeders, who are often strongly motivated to provide the best upbringing possible, may not select their breeding dogs on the basis of their performance as pets. </p>
<p>Instead, they may focus on success in the show ring or pedigree bloodlines, potentially producing very expensive dogs ill-equipped to be great pets.</p>
<p>And what of the traditional source of the family dog – pet owners who fail to desex their pets? If high rates of desexing exclude from the gene pool those really wonderful pet dogs owned by “responsible” owners, and only irresponsible owners allow their dogs to breed, the resulting puppies are far less likely to possess the traits so desired by prospective homes.</p>
<p>One has only to visit a local shelter to see the unfortunate results of accidental matings among the many wonderful dogs seeking a new home. Thousands of dogs are surrendered in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/7/50">Australia shelters every year</a>.</p>
<p>To secure future generations of successful companion dogs, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00241/full">a new approach to breeding is needed</a>. Restricting who can breed, and issuing penalties to those who break the rules, is one strategy that must of course be developed and enforced. </p>
<p>All breeders must be educated about careful selection of parents, and suitable early experiences in breeding puppies that will excel as pets. </p>
<p>But the final piece in the puzzle should be collaboration between responsible breeders and pet owners in the breeding process. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/307375/original/file-20191217-164424-1suq1hs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Whosa good boy? Whoosa very good boy? Who’s integrating very well with the family unit? You are! Yes you are!</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">DORIS META F/Flickr</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
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<p>If more responsible dog owners were encouraged not to desex their dogs at an early age, but to wait until their dogs’ physical and behavioural health has been thoroughly demonstrated, the very best companion dogs could be permitted to contribute their genes to the next generation. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-serious-is-inbreeding-in-show-dogs-56402">How serious is inbreeding in show dogs?</a>
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<p>This more nuanced approach, where owners and breeders work together to identify dogs of exemplary health and temperament, could enrich the companion dog gene pool and result in happier owners, happier dogs, and emptier shelters. Although not desexing companion dogs does carry risks – from <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-decisions-to-desex-male-dogs-just-got-more-complicated-95520">behavioural issues to unwanted puppies</a> – we believe this is worth considering. Always discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Not snipping in haste may be a better option than snipping everything.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123013/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jessica Dawson is an active member of Dogs Victoria.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Pauleen Bennett has previously received funding from state and federal governments, and from industry and philanthropic sources. She is a recreational dog breeder who is affiliated with Dogs Victoria. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul McGreevy receives funding from the Australian Research Council</span></em></p>Beloved family pets have all the qualities we need in the next generation of puppies, so maybe you shouldn’t rush to desex them all right away.Jessica Dawson, PhD Student in Anthrozoology, La Trobe UniversityPauleen Bennett, Professor and Head of Department, Psychology and Counselling, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe UniversityPaul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/989472018-07-02T03:52:32Z2018-07-02T03:52:32ZVictoria’s puppy farms and pet shop laws a world first - but questions about ‘ethical’ breeding remain<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225443/original/file-20180629-117377-1fxwplm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Victoria's ban on pet shop sales of kittens and puppies is replicated around the world.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The initial stages of Victoria’s world first <a href="http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/puppy-farm-legislation">Puppy Farms and Pet Shops Act</a> (PFPS Act) were implemented on Sunday in a bid to stamp out cruel puppy and kitten breeding practises. </p>
<p>The bill, like others across the world, bans commercial pet stores from selling puppies and kittens from breeders. Stores will now be required to source dogs and cats from registered animal pounds, animal shelters or community foster care organisations.</p>
<p>But what makes the Victorian legislation unique is a cap limiting the number of fertile females allowed by commercial breeders. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/as-selling-pets-online-becomes-normal-we-need-to-regulate-it-91478">As selling pets online becomes normal, we need to regulate it</a>
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<p>The new laws aim to eliminate pet shops as a point of sale of puppies from large scale breeders, and promote the adoption of homeless dogs and cats to prospective pet owners. Currently, <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/7/7/50/htm">43,900 dogs die in Australia’s pounds each year</a>. </p>
<p>The changes follow <a href="https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3111220/pyramid-hill-puppy-farm-kept-dogs-in-filth/">revelations</a> about the cruel treatment of dogs and puppies raised by large scale breeders. Many issues have been brought to light by animal welfare organisation <a href="https://www.oscarslaw.org/">Oscar’s Law</a>, who have campaigned rigorously for amendments to companion animal breeding laws in Victoria and across the country.</p>
<h2>Pet shop sales ban across the globe</h2>
<p>Victoria’s ban on pet shop sales of puppies and kittens is a strategy implemented across the globe.</p>
<p>The US state of <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB485">California passed legislation banning</a> the sale of “puppy mill” dogs in pet stores in October 2017, with <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=HB1662&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2018RS">Maryland adopting similar legislation</a> in April 2018. </p>
<p>Like the Victorian model, pet stores in these US states will now be restricted to selling only shelter dogs and cats. The legislation relies on halting the sale of animals in pet stores to decrease demand for dogs from the puppy mill trade. </p>
<h2>Victoria’s unique breeding dog cap</h2>
<p><a href="http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/373225/Fact-Sheet-Commercial-Dog-Breeders_version-3.pdf">The 2020 introduction of a cap of 50 fertile females</a> for breeders takes Victoria’s laws a step further. The cap will see the end of businesses operating with upward of 200 breeding dogs. While many animal advocacy groups have welcomed the introduction of a cap, <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Council_2017/Council_Daily_Extract_Thursday_14_December_2017_from_Book_22.pdf">others have accused</a> the state Labor government of being influenced by “animal rights activists”.</p>
<p>During numerous parliamentary hearings, opponents including pet shop industry bodies, commercial dog breeders and coalition ministers, argued that there was “no scientific basis” for the cap of 50 fertile dogs. <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/SCEI/Domestic_Animals_/EIC_58-06_Report_Text_only.pdf">Opponents argued it would drive breeding “underground”</a> and make it difficult for Victorians to access and afford specific in-demand dogs, including “designer dogs” such as Cavoodles.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=313&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=313&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=313&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=394&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=394&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225058/original/file-20180627-112641-s6p3ka.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=394&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Caps on the number of breeding dogs allowed by businesses will put an end to industrial-scale breeding in poor conditions.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Animal Liberation Victoria/AAP</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Problems with defining ‘puppy farms’ and ‘ethical’ breeding</h2>
<p>There is community consensus that ending puppy farming is necessary. A <a href="https://petproblemsolved.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Puppy-Farming-Poll-Summary-26-11-13.pdf">2013 poll</a> conducted by the Animal Welfare League NSW found 80% of residents believed puppy farming should be stopped. </p>
<p>However, defining puppy farms is tricky. While the <a href="http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-a-puppy-farm_322.html">RSPCA defines a puppy farm</a> as “an intensive dog breeding facility…that fail to meet the dog’s behavioural, social and/or physiological needs,” the definition does not reflect the conditions of many businesses affected by the cap.</p>
<p>My PhD research explores how Victoria’s dog-owning community understand their dog buying practices as being ethical. Survey data I have collected suggests messages from organisations such as the RSPCA and Oscar’s Law about “ethical” and “responsible” ways to buy a dog are often misunderstood or not followed by dog owners. </p>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225060/original/file-20180627-112611-12ngelp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The RSPCA definition of a ‘puppy farm’</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">RSPCA/AAP</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For example, while Oscar’s law drew attention to problems with large-scale breeding facilities, some dog owners indicated they were comfortable with purchasing a dog from a large-scale breeder, particularly if that breeder allowed them to meet the puppy’s parents or tour the facility. </p>
<p>Many respondents stated that they did not consider these places to be puppy farms, regularly labelling them as “good ethical breeders”. This is partly due to the fact that dog buyer’s guides, such as the <a href="https://www.rspcapuppyguide.com.au/">RSPCA’S Smart Puppy and Dog Buyers Guide</a> urges prospective pet owners to do just that (meet the parents, see where the puppy has lived). </p>
<p>In addition, various respondents directly voiced concerns about being able to identify “ethical” breeders from “unethical” breeders, indicating the process of buying a dog was “stressful,” and information “confusing” and “conflicting”. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-decisions-to-desex-male-dogs-just-got-more-complicated-95520">Why decisions to desex male dogs just got more complicated</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>My research highlights how understandings around responsible dog buying practices vary, as well as how distinguishing the “puppy farms” from “ethical breeders” is still a challenge for welfare organisations, legislators and dog owners.</p>
<h2>Impact of Victorian legislation: a waiting game</h2>
<p>In theory, the ongoing roll-out of Victoria’s legislation will address many of the anxieties over distinguishing “good” breeders from “bad” breeders. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/225073/original/file-20180627-112601-keguyd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Victoria’s legislation will drastically change the lives of many pets across the state.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cute-kittens-12929201-1600-1200.jpg">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cute-kittens-12929201-1600-1200.jpg</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While pet-loving communities worldwide are beginning to make efforts to stamp out cruel dog breeding trades and practices, measuring the outcome of Victoria’s policy - particularly the breeding dog cap - remains difficult. Overall, the long term impact of Victoria’s changes remains to be seen.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/98947/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Clare Brealey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Victoria’s puppy farms and pet shop laws are being rolled out, sparking controversy. The state is the first in the world to limit the number of fertile females allowed by commercial breeders.Clare Brealey, PhD Candidate in Crime, Justice and Legal Studies, La Trobe UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/880932017-12-07T11:46:32Z2017-12-07T11:46:32ZShould you ever get a puppy at Christmas? Here’s all you need to know<p>They are cute. They are fluffy (mostly). They are great fun and make perfect family pets. Right? Well, not entirely. With Christmas fast approaching, and despite <a href="https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/news/dogs-trust-a-dog-is-for-life-not-just-for-christmas">campaigns</a> urging people to be more cautious, many are still buying puppies as <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/record-number-dogs-abandoned-christmas-9575850">presents</a>. Last year, <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/record-number-dogs-abandoned-christmas-9575850">it was reported that</a> the Dogs Trust saw a 54% increase (on 2016) in the number of dogs abandoned at their shelters around Christmas.</p>
<p>Presents don’t get any better than a puppy if you’re purely wanting the “ahhh” factor. But let’s just take a minute to look at the realities of getting a dog – after all, the “ahhh” moment only lasts until they have a wee on your new woollen rug. At that point, the reality may start sinking in. Dogs are amazing, but they require time, patience and dedication – not to mention a lifestyle change. </p>
<p>They are also expensive – not just a little, but a lot. While puppies are, admittedly <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11360819/Average-cost-of-raising-a-child-in-UK-230000.html">cheaper than children</a>, the average owner still spends between <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jan/20/can-you-afford-dog-33000-pet-insurance-food">£21,000 and £33,000</a> on their dog during its lifetime and an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jan/20/can-you-afford-dog-33000-pet-insurance-food">enormous 98% of people underestimate this cost</a>. </p>
<p>First, you have food bills – and you owe it to your dog to feed them a decent diet. In fact, if you need convincing, the better the food, the less poop they produce. Then there are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/apr/09/vet-bills-prices-sick-as-dog">veterinary bills</a> and insurance costs. Even if you don’t get them insured for veterinary fees, you probably want to look at third-party liability – in the eyes of the law <a href="https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/8277/law.pdf">you are totally liable for your dog’s actions</a>. And then there’s the costs of care when you go away on holiday.</p>
<p>You also need to consider training costs. I urge every owner to attend puppy classes that teach “life skills” and where the trainer also has the credentials needed – the scientific knowledge and the experience to ensure that you and your dog <a href="https://positively.com/dog-training/find-a-trainer/how-to-choose-a-good-dog-trainer/">gets the very best training</a>.</p>
<h2>Changing routines</h2>
<p>One of the biggest changes, however, is going to be to your daily routine. Dogs need walking – not when the weather is nice, not when you can be bothered, but every day. <a href="https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/general-advice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/puppy-and-dog-walking/">Ideally, twice a day</a>. </p>
<p>If you work full-time, you’re going to need to get out of bed around an hour earlier to walk your dog – in winter, this almost certainly means in the dark, cold and rain. You are then going to have to pay for a dog walker to come and take them on a walk while you’re out – don’t expect to be able to leave a dog for eight to ten hours a day, five days a week, without some kind of break. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/198141/original/file-20171207-5024-pzcxkv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Part of the family.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/media/677096266">Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Alternatively, you could always broach the subject of allowing dogs in the workplace – <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/may/18/dogs-in-office-canine-colleagues-staff-wellbeing">the benefits of doing so are well documented</a>. But even then, just when you get home from a long hard day at work, you’ve got to accept that your pooch has had an equally long day of resting and sleeping and quite frankly will be well up for some fun. </p>
<p>Dogs are also messy. They shed hair, they get muddy and – sometimes – <a href="http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170608-the-many-reasons-why-dogs-might-roll-in-smelly-poo">they even like to roll in poop</a>. All of this adds to the time it takes to look after a dog. </p>
<h2>Not all doom and gloom</h2>
<p>However, if all this sounds like doom and gloom, it isn’t. You just have to ensure you understand the challenges and responsibilities. </p>
<p>One of the most common reasons dogs are relinquished to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20017043">rescue centres is behaviour problems</a>. These potentially are caused by a lack of exercise, training or understanding. Dogs are sentient beings, with amazing personalities who deserve company, compassion and love. This doesn’t mean we have to totally change our lives to accommodate them, but having a dog really does take time. Those families you see having a wonderful cold, crisp and sunny walk with their loyal dog joining in the fun, they are the ones who put the work in, who take the time and who value their pet as a member of the family. </p>
<p>But then there’s the very worst part of dog owning … the fact that no matter how much we love them, their time with us is far too short. You can wonder whether it was all worth it, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/dec/22/the-grief-of-losing-a-pet-is-traumatic-and-universal-so-why-dont-we-talk-about-it">because the heartache is immense and unwavering</a>. But that’s the deal – they make your heart and then they break it. But crikey, it’s worth every moment. </p>
<p>So, if you really want a dog and you’re ready for the commitment then sure, get a dog at Christmas time. Just be sure you’ve thoroughly planned it and are ready for the massive lifestyle change and, yes, cost. Having a dog takes time and money, but, the rewards on offer far outweigh the price you pay.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88093/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emily Birch receives funding from The Kennel Club. </span></em></p>The average owner spends between £21,000 and £33,000 on their dog in its lifetime.Emily Birch, Research Fellow in Human Canine Interactions, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/384202015-04-01T19:10:52Z2015-04-01T19:10:52ZWar of words: how cute puppies become 250,000 abandoned dogs<p>We don’t usually hear the word “vigil” used for animals, but dog activist groups recently chose this word for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ldhvigil">an event</a> as part of a social media campaign to force a government inquiry into the high kill rate at the North Melbourne Lost Dogs Home. </p>
<p>As one of the word’s definitions includes “a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times”, it was a strategic choice.</p>
<p>A specific discourse is at the centre of an ongoing campaign in Australia, and especially in Victoria, about the cruelty of puppy farms, the sale of dogs in pet shops, over-supply and high abandonment and kill rates. The vigil was part of this campaign. Put simply, the activist groups, and all who support them, argue that dogs are intelligent sentient beings requiring appropriate and humane care for 12 to 16 years.</p>
<h2>Activists talk about abandonment and killing</h2>
<p>Dogs are not consumer items to be bought on a whim and later discarded and killed. How many are killed? Images on the vigil Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ldhvigil/photos/pcb.421650551327646/421650361327665/?type=1&theater">claim</a> 49% of unclaimed dogs at the Lost Dogs Home are killed.</p>
<p>According to figures from the US, “shelter euthanasia” <a href="http://animalsandsociety.org/assets/library/100_jaws070102.pdf">accounts</a> for one-third of all canine deaths and was the leading cause for the three decades prior to the study.</p>
<p>We don’t have comparable figures for Australia because, as RSPCA president Hugh Wirth notes in a <a href="http://www.australiananimalwelfare.com.au/app/webroot/files/upload/files/Abandoned%20animals%20in%20Australia.pdf">2008 report</a>, we have no uniform recording system. In a society where all is calibrated, it’s curious that no one except the RSPCA is keeping or communicating precise total numbers. Is it because they would cause shame? “Shameful” is how Wirth describes a human population of then 21 million generating his estimate of 250,000 dogs abandoned annually.</p>
<p>Another image on the vigil website shows the word “home” deleted from Lost Dogs Home, replaced by the word “hell”. Language is crucial in any debate and “home”, with its connotations of refuge and ongoing care, is at best cruelly ironic to describe a pound with a high kill rate. </p>
<p>But perhaps the most visible part of the current campaign was the January 2015 <a href="https://www.change.org/p/daniel-andrews-premier-victoria-have-an-enquiry-into-the-lost-dogs-home-and-it-s-administration-and-ask-why-so-many-dogs-are-being-killed-when-owners-are-searching-for-them-and-or-rescue-groups-are-pleading-to-be-able-to-rehome-them-the-ldh-is-a-disg">change.org petition</a> (initiated by the group <a href="http://www.rescuedwithlove.org/">Rescued with Love</a>), which received 10,000 signatures in its first week. The new Victorian state government ordered an <a href="https://www.viclabor.com.au/media-releases/government-orders-investigation-into-lost-dogs-home/">investigation</a> into the Lost Dogs Home. The government also promised a <a href="https://www.viclabor.com.au/media-releases/puppies-safer-under-labor-the-crackdown-continues/">“crackdown” on puppy farms</a>, in co-operation with the RSPCA, which had <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/state-government-gives-rspca-6-million-to-set-up-special-unit-to-crack-down-on-illegal-puppy-farms/story-fngnvlxu-1227103781488">already begun</a> under the previous government.</p>
<p>This crackdown, foreshadowed in the election campaign, involves enforcing strict guidelines, including a maximum of five litters per dog and a proposed ban on pet shop sales of dogs.</p>
<p>The link between high kill rates, puppy farms and pet shops becomes clear when one learns that the RSPCA <a href="http://www.rspcavic.org/issues-take-action/puppy-factories/">estimates</a> that 95% of dogs sold in pet shops come from puppy farms and backyard breeders.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.animalsaustralia.org/">Animals Australia</a>, the peak body representing 40 animal rights groups, <a href="http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/companion_animals.php#toc2">says</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Unrestricted breeding of cats and dogs simply means that there are more animals than the number of responsible homes available at any one time.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The result is society’s acceptance of “the killing of thousands of healthy companion animals”. Wirth’s report too makes an explicit link between the impulse buying of animals in pet shops and their subsequent abandonment.</p>
<h2>Industry frames demand as a right</h2>
<p>As well as the communication coming from the RSPCA, the government and activist lobby groups, creating the discourse that killing more than 100,000 dogs each year must be remedied by government action, oppositional communication is coming from another source: owners of pet shops and puppy farms. In a <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/pet-shops-dog-breeders-irate-at-cost-of-plan-to-stop-puppy-farms-20150227-13qsvv.html">recent article</a>, both the words chosen (and not chosen) and the syntax are striking.</p>
<p>The most notable absences are the words “kill” and “abandonment”. Instead we have Melburnians, as the grammatical subject of the first sentence, who “will struggle” to buy a puppy, cast as the object, framed as something the speaker is constructing as our inalienable right. </p>
<p>But why? Perhaps lexical choices can provide some clues. The words “industry” and “business” are each used eight times in the short article. </p>
<p>In a slight attempt to introduce some “balance”, the journalist briefly quotes a representative of <a href="http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/">Dogs Victoria</a>, a group of smaller breeders of pure-bred puppies. She welcomes the legislation, saying that pet shop conditions are not conducive to dogs’ welfare. This is the only appearance of the word “welfare” in the article.</p>
<p>Even the Dogs Victoria representative makes no mention of over-supply, nor the high rates of abandonment and killing. She does use “demand” twice, a word used three times overall: first to say that her members will not be able to keep up with demand when “the big commercial breeders go out of business”. Here again, the dog is constructed as a commodity, not a sentient being, which consumers have the “right” to “demand”.</p>
<p>The final lines reprise this construction when she says her “main problem” with the legislation is:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>… who is going to fill the gap for the demand for puppies? </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Earlier, the acting CEO of the <a href="http://piaa.net.au/">Pet Industry Association of Australia</a> says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The public want an eight-week-old pup, they want it for their kids.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As with most mammals, dogs are at their most appealing when very young. His word choice betrays the exploitation of this appeal by the “pet industry”, in order that more dogs are bought on a whim, by the public whose rights are inalienable. </p>
<p>But the public appears to be starting to listen to the activist groups, judging by the number and type of comments in response to such articles. Change has begun, especially at the <a href="http://dogshome.com/">North Melbourne Lost Dogs Home</a>.</p>
<p>But the proposed legislation will need to be well-resourced and strongly enforced to change entrenched attitudes and patterns of dealing with <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/01/hunting-with-wolves-humans-conquered-the-world-neanderthal-evolution">our oldest companion animal</a>.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/38420/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Carolyne Lee is affiliated with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre as a volunteer in the Education Program.</span></em></p>The pet industry meets ‘demand’ driven by the ‘right’ to own a puppy. Animal welfare advocates respond with a ‘vigil’ to mark the ‘shameful’ fate of 250,000 dogs abandoned each year.Carolyne Lee, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/34392011-09-19T20:42:51Z2011-09-19T20:42:51ZAustralia increasingly uncomfortable with animal cruelty<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/3695/original/puppy_forced_rhubarb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Are puppy farm protesters part of a growing wave of interest in animal rights?</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">forced rhubarb</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>I may be wrong, but recent indicators suggest animal suffering is going out of fashion.</p>
<p>I have been tracking the ebb and flow of the animal protection movement as a first-hand observer since the late 1990s. I have also conducted <a href="http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=393597">historical research</a> into the contemporary animal protection movement which emerged in the 1970s; and the early-modern animal protection movement of the Victorian era. </p>
<p>Unless I am mistaken, the community seems increasingly unimpressed by animal suffering.</p>
<p>On September 18, around 5,000 people <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/its-a-putsch-for-pooches-as-thousands-of-protesters-lay-down-the-law-for-oscar-20110918-1kg3z.html">rallied on the steps</a> of Victoria’s Parliament House. Speaker after speaker took to the microphone to condemn <a href="http://www.wheredopuppiescomefrom.com.au/index.htm">puppy mills</a>. </p>
<p>Also know as puppy factories, these mills are often backyard operations, located on city fringes, where breeding adults dogs live in crowded, anti-social, squalid conditions. </p>
<p>It is the dogs’ job to produce puppies; puppies that are then sold through pet stores, often to impulse buyers. </p>
<p>The system has a number of problems:</p>
<ul>
<li>the breeding animals live in poor conditions;</li>
<li>once the thrill of the impulse purchase wears off, many young dogs find themselves at the local pound;</li>
<li>regulation is poor, as authorities aren’t easily able to keep breeders in check. </li>
</ul>
<p>On September 18, protesters came in their thousands, many with dogs in tow. They called for an end to puppy farms and did so under the banner of “<a href="http://www.oscarslaw.org/">Oscar’s Law</a>”. </p>
<p>The “law” is named in honour of Oscar who survived five years as a stud dog, and was rescued twice by Debra Tranter, the driving force behind Oscar’s Law. </p>
<p>All kinds of people were gathered on the steps of Parliament House: this wasn’t a fringe group of animal liberationists. They cheered for Debra and booed the Baillieu Government’s representative who spoke of greater regulation to stop rogue operators. </p>
<p>Legislation to get tough on puppy factories is consistent with the Baillieu Government’s <a href="http://vic.liberal.org.au/webData/policies_others/Agriculture.pdf">pre-election promise</a>. But it is not consistent with Oscar’s Law, which calls for an end to all puppy mills and a prohibition on the sale of dogs through pet stores. </p>
<figure>
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</figure>
<p>But while the Oscar’s Law crowd was impressive, it could not out-do the show of support <a href="http://www.animalsaustralia.org/">Animals Australia</a> and the <a href="http://www.banliveexport.com/">RSPCA</a> received when they asked people to <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-06-18/farmers-activists-face-off-in-live-export-rally/2763054">rally around Australia</a> in opposition to live animal exports.</p>
<p>On August 14 an estimated 20,000 people rallied around Australia and it was standing room only on the steps of <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/thousands-rally-to-halt-live-exports-20110814-1ispt.html">Victoria’s Parliament House</a>.</p>
<p>The crowds, the letters, the emails and the petitions all suggest one thing: the community is not impressed by animal suffering. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, hen producers and chicken meat sellers feel they must spend time and money <a href="http://www.steggles.com.au/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,print,0&cntnt01articleid=33&cntnt01showtemplate=false&cntnt01returnid=99">communicating</a> a “free to roam” or “no cages here” message to the community. And the speed with which an apparently small army of animal lawyers <a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1006465">challenged the legitimacy</a> of those advertising campaigns, seems very telling. </p>
<p>Likewise, community support for <a href="http://theconversation.com/jumps-racing-what-a-waste-1252">jumps racing</a> and <a href="http://theconversation.com/ducking-and-weaving-should-we-be-hunting-in-australias-wetlands-148">duck shooting</a> does not appear to be growing. Rather, those who have always opposed those practices still oppose them, and their numbers continue to swell as others decide they too must speak out.</p>
<p>Of course, legislative change is slow, if it occurs at all. Animal advocates know this, and at the rally for Oscar’s Law many speakers made reference to the need for community-level change. Given the number of community members apparently concerned enough to take to the streets, that change may be afoot. </p>
<p>It does seem as though the tide is turning against animal suffering. I will be very interested to see whether the trend continues and where it takes us.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/3439/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Siobhan O'Sullivan is a financial member of a number of animal charities, including Animals Australia and RSPCA NSW.</span></em></p>I may be wrong, but recent indicators suggest animal suffering is going out of fashion. I have been tracking the ebb and flow of the animal protection movement as a first-hand observer since the late 1990s…Siobhan O'Sullivan, Research Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.