The Solution
The Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill is the solution to many of the problems faced by companion animals. It is designed to protect the lives and well-being of cats and dogs by regulating the way in which they are bred and sold. This will ensure that the animals are not mistreated by the industry, promote best practise, protect consumer rights, and will encourage responsible pet ownership.
If the Bill is passed, puppy farms and backyard breeders will no longer be allowed to operate. Pet shops, markets and auctions will be prohibited from selling cats and dogs, and people will instead be encouraged to adopt their next pet from a shelter, pound, rescue organisation, vet or registered breeder. This will dramatically reduce the number of animals entering pounds, and will increase the number of animals able to be saved.
By changing the way in which animals are bred and sold, the Animals Bill will reduce the number of animals abandoned, which in turn threatens our environment and native wildlife. Particularly as most animals are not desexed, stray cats can quickly breed and form colonies. A great deal of public resources are required to manage unwanted, abandoned, or nuisance animals. Preventing the problem from occuring makes more sense than dealing with it after the event.
To date, companion animal legislation puts the burden of responsibility onto the owner of the animal to ‘do the right thing’. Although this makes sense, clearly it is not working. There will always be a section of the community who cannot or will not comply, and holding these people accountable for their actions is almost impossible.
The Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill will instead seek to regulate the pet industry:
- to stop mass indiscriminate breeding of cats and dogs by making it illegal, and removing avenues for selling them; and
- make the pet industry accountable in its dealings with the public, and ensure people are prepared for pet ownership
The pet industry has been allowed to operate unregulated for too long, and the consequences have been unimaginably bad - for the community, its animals, the consumer, the tax payer, and the environment. The Animals (regulation of sale) Bill offers an immediate and long term solution.
