In South Australia there are laws to regulate the breeding, selling and trading of dogs and cats to protect animals from people who put profits before an animal’s welfare. These laws aren’t just for registered businesses; they apply to anyone who breeds, or is involved in the breeding of dogs or cats, including owners of ‘accidental’ litters.
There are 6 things South Australian dog and cat breeders must do to comply with the law.
Anyone who breeds and/or trades in companion animals should follow the South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals. These standards set minimum requirements for housing, husbandry, veterinary care and living conditions for breeding dogs and cats and their babies. All breeders should adhere to or exceed these standards to avoid breaking animal welfare laws. Breeders who follow these standards demonstrate their concern for the welfare of the animals in their care. They also respect the community’s expectations of breeders acting ethically, having compassion and respect for the animals in their care. These standards and guidelines are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and Animal Welfare Regulations 2012. Breaches should be reported to the RSPCA.
All dogs, cats and breeders must be registered in Dogs and Cats Online. If you wish to breed and sell dogs and cats, you must register yourself as a breeder on Dogs and Cats Online, each financial year you intend to sell dogs and cats you have bred.
Any advertisement selling a dog or cat must include the following information (use this template example).
Breeders must have puppies/kittens microchipped before sale with the microchip entered in Dogs and Cats Online, asking the microchip implanter to record the microchip to their DACO breeder number. At the time of sale, breeders must:
Use the breeder's easy microchip guide for step-by-step details and a flyer to give purchasers.
Any person who sells a dog or cat must provide the following information to purchasers in writing. You can use this sale certificate template for this purpose.
All dogs and cats born after the 1 July 2018 must be desexed.* Breeders registered in Dogs and Cats Online don't have to have their breeding animals desexed but their breeder registration must be renewed annually to retain the desexing exemption. Dogs and cats must be desexed within 28 days of purchase and before 6 months of age. If a vet grants a time extension, the owner must ensure the procedure takes place before the date specified in the extension notice..
*Some exemptions apply.