Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Puppy Factories PUPPY FACTORIES The Hon. T.A. FRANKS Legislative Council PUPPY FACTORIES The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs and the minister representing the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about puppy factories. Leave granted. The Hon. T.A. FRANKS Legislative Council The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I would like to raise the issue of puppy factories in this place. As the Minister for Consumer Affairs would be aware, currently there is an SA Code of Practice for the Care and Management of Animals in the Pet Trade review, for which submissions closed in September this year. We are having a look at how pet shops operate in this state. For those who are not aware, puppy factories exist where unethical breeders use intensive breeding facilities and pump out designer dogs by the dozen, often leaving both the breeding animal—the female producing the pups—and the pups with quite significant health concerns. It is also devastating to consumers, who buy these designer dogs at designer price tags, to find out that they are often suffering ill health and are often badly socialised. Given that the Animal Law Committee of the Law Society expressed disappointment that the SA Code of Practice for the Care and Management of Animals in the Pet Trade did not actually address the issues of breeding, in particular puppy factories, will she ensure that it is addressed by this government? Will we be seeing moves by this government some time soon to stop puppy factories in South Australia? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for her important question. Indeed, matters to do with animal welfare are the responsibility of the Minister for Environment and Conservation, so I will certainly refer those relevant parts of the question to him. However, in relation to my responsibilities as Minister for Consumer Affairs, my department has dealt with issues dealing with the false advertising components of the sale of puppies; that is, advertising them to be a particular breed or quality that is, in fact, not true. If a retailer or puppy breeder is found to be guilty of such a breach, action can be taken against them. Nevertheless, as you can imagine, it is extremely difficult sometimes to follow these people up. We had an incident recently where, with the use of the internet, a gentleman was selling puppies and taking money in advance. The money was supposed to assist in the vaccination and transportation of these animals. Of course, in this instance the animals were not forthcoming, so consumers never received their puppies. They parted with their money and, of course, this particular fellow was not able to be found because he was selling over the internet. We warn people time and again to be very careful, particularly with puppies, to go through reputable puppy retailers or reputable puppy breeders, to do their research in advance, and make sure that they are dealing with someone of high reputation. We warn people to ensure that they see their credentials, and ensure they see papers, if a dog is held out to be a particular breed or pedigree, to support that. Particularly being a former minister for environment and conservation and also an animal lover, I am always concerned when I hear any reports of animals being abused in any way, and that is obviously a position that I will continue to advocate irrespective of which portfolios I have responsibility for.