News and updates

Please be advised that as from Thursday 6 April 2023, Mrs Lyn Brand has tendered her resignation as President of and Director on DOGS NSW Board.

A meeting of the remaining Directors will be held on Wednesday 12 April 2023 to appoint a new Chair and to consider whether to call for nominations to fill the position of Director.

Further advice will be conveyed to members following the meeting on Wednesday next week.

The NSW Pet Registry has reached out to inquire about the experience of breeders in transporting puppies to new owners through couriers or similar services. Their development team is currently working on the ownership transfer process for such situations for the new NSW Pet Registry, and they would greatly appreciate any input from breeders with this experience to help them with the design phase.

Breeders who have had experience with transporting puppies in this way are encouraged to contact Mel Frazer at [email protected]. They would love to hear our members' thoughts and insights by the end of next week.

Thank you for your time and assistance!

Dogs Australia has been advised by the FCI A2O Secretariat that the following form is required when sending in the results of your FCI A2O Shows.

This form should be accompanied with a digital copy of the show catalogue.

Please click here to download the FCI A20 Show Results Report Form.

CORRECTION

Please note the amendment to Dogs Australia National Code of Practice of Responsible Dog Ownership, Clause 13, which now reads:-

13.  Subject to the legislation in the relevant State or Territory, a member shall not breed a bitch causing it to whelp more than twice in eighteen months.
(Amended 02/23, 5.3 – Effective 01/07/2023)

As the peak body for breeders of purebred dogs in this State, DOGS NSW finds the practice of puppy farms/mills abhorrent, and we agree there should be a concerted effort to tackle it.

The Daily Telegraph’s article ‘NSW election: Emma Hurst MP, @AnimalJusticeParty call out blatant lies in antiparty campaign’ lacks research, includes misinformation and, we believe, lacks fact-checking. It also makes false statements regarding DOGS NSW, particularly the content of the NSW radio advertisements mentioned in the article, which mentions the Companions and Pets Party.

You can read the Daily Telegraph article by clicking here.

Please click here to read DOGS NSW response letter to the Daily Telegraph to correct the article.

On DOGS NSW website we have stated that the key issues with the AJP and Greens are removing legal property ownership of dogs, so you’re only their guardian, eliminating short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds like Pugs/French Bulldogs and more; restricting breeding conditions such as the de-sexing age from 6 years, even if vet assesses healthy; dogs considered breeding animals over 8 weeks even though not breeding age (recommended 12months); not breeding dogs with genetic conditions even though DNA can rule plan breeding out conditions. These AJP policies lack scientific evidence and research and are part of their policy to promote animal adoption ahead of commercialised breeding.

DOGS NSW are against puppy farming. We love our dogs and have the highest standards of animal welfare and code of ethics.

The Animal Justice Party policies will not solve puppy farming, rather encourage them and foster black market trade with price increases for families; create a scarcity of purebred dogs for families to choose a dog based on their breed (meaning they could end up with a poorly bred dog with behavioural or health problems and increased costs). DOGS NSW only advocates on evidence based research and liaising with qualified industry professionals such as University Professors and Veterinarians.

Ultimately, dog owners and ethical registered breeders will be the collateral damage.

Vote the AJP and Greens below the line (ie, vote them last) at the NSW Election today to make your vote count to save pet ownership!

#informedvoter #nswpol #yourbreedofchoice #ownyourdog #savebrachybreeds

One day to go before NSW votes at the election and decides about pet ownership! 

Make your vote count so you keep your rights as a dog owner. Don't let political parties remove your rights and options as a dog owner. 

Renowned vet and TV's Better Homes and Gardens Dr Harry Cooper agrees the Companion Animals Bill only seeks to control registered responsible breeders rather than eliminate puppy farming. He believes in one solution which is traceable identification, such as the NLIS scheme for cattle where animals are identified from birth, and while that is not a practical solution in the case of puppies, identification from 6 weeks is and they shouldn't be sold without a microchip.

"Further study of the bill makes assumptions and seeks enforcements of practices that have no scientific background that I am aware of. Show me the evidence that puppies can be selected at 8 weeks as being suitable or unsuitable breeding stock. Show me the evidence attached to the value of de-sexing male dogs at 6 years of age. Show me the evidence that ‘defects’ are genetic and therefore ‘inherited’."

Please click here to read Dr Harry's full letter.

Make sure you know who you're voting for this Saturday 25 March. Support parties who value your right to choose a dog of your choice. Unfortunately, last year the Bill passed in the upper house with the support of Labor, Greens and Animal Justice Party. Don't let it pass legislation by voting for these parties and giving them more seats in NSW Parliament. The parties which support the Bill not proceeding are Liberal, One Nation and Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party. 

DOGS NSW is dedicated to continued high standards of Animal Welfare but sadly the political policies do not solve puppy farming, rather encourage them and make dog ownership that much harder for families in NSW.

* Vote the Greens and AJP below the line (ie, vote them LAST) to make your vote count to support companion animals and the rights of dog owners.

Please forward to as many as your networks as possible or our social media posts today.


                              LinkedIn is newly created so please like, share and follow.

The DOGS NSW Finance Committee would like to advise Affiliates that the Regional Grant Program has now been finalised.

Further, the Committee would like to engage those Affiliates who were successful in their Grant Application and, subsequently received funding from the Program to send photographs of what they purchased and how those items are being used.

Rottweiler - Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy

A survey was conducted by Dogs Australia last year to ascertain the feedback from all owners of registered Rottweilers in relation to testing all breeding pairs for Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis Polyneuropathy (JLPP).

The response received indicated support.

As this was an amendment to current regulations, the result of the survey was referred to the Dogs Australia Board of Directors for consideration at their February 2023 Special Board meeting where it was endorsed.

Consequently, the following new clause will be added to Regulations Part 6 – The Register & Registration which will be effective from 1 January 2023:

8.17     Effective from 1/1/23 ALL Rottweilers be tested for JUVENILE LARYNGEAL PARALYSIS POLYNEUROPATHY (JLPP) prior to being mated and only Clear to Clear or Clear to Carrier be permitted. The exception to this is Frozen Semen whereby a sample can be taken from left over semen when a bitch is inseminated and then sent off for testing; in these cases, the bitch must be a Clear on the chance the sire may be a Carrier. Certificate to be provided by the Laboratory carrying out testing eg: Laboklin, OFA, Orivet. Samples must be taken by a Vet or a Certified Collector. 

DOGS Australia has concerns regarding the risk of vectoring Canine Ehrlichiosis through the pedigree dog population attending our major exhibition events such as Royal Shows. All exhibitors are encouraged to ensure their dogs are treated for tick prevention using a reputable systemic treatment prior to attending such events or travelling into areas where the brown dog tick is known to occur.

While reputable tick preventions will stop the spread of Ehrlichiosis between dogs, it still relies on the tick biting the dog in the first place to be effective and of course it’s the biting of the dog by the tick which transmits the bacteria.

The disease is characterised by fever, decreased appetite, lethargy and bleeding (such as nose bleeds). Some dogs develop severe and rapid weight loss, swollen limbs, difficulty breathing and blindness. The illness can also affect the bone marrow, which can be fatal. Some dogs die of septicaemia, or they bleed uncontrollably which can also lead to death. Most dogs will improve from treatment with antibiotics and other supportive measures. However, some may develop a chronic infection, which usually has a terminal outcome.

People planning travel through any of the brown tick distribution areas (as shown on this link Travelling with your dog in Australia - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au) or to events where dogs from other States and Territories will be in attendance should be applying a systemic tick prevention to their animals prior to attendance. Dogs travelling through known brown tick distribution areas should also be using a Seresto Collar Seresto® Flea & Tick Collar - Official Bayer Pet Collar Site (seresto-store.com), which prevents the parasite biting the dog in the first place.

DOGS NSW has warned that should the Animal Justice Party (AJP) and the Greens gain extra seats in the upcoming NSW election, dog ownership could suffer.

The Companion Animals policies that the NSW AJP and Greens have issued could reduce the number of dogs available for Australians by restricting breeding and elimination of certain purebred dogs, believe DOGS NSW.

Lyn Brand, President of DOGS NSW, stated that DOGS NSW does not support puppy farms/factories nor any sub-standard conditions for any pets to live in, but their policies are not going to deter them, rather encourage them and make dog ownership that much harder for families in NSW.

“This is the time for NSW locals to make a choice and beware of the political parties such as the Greens and Animal rights groups whose policies don’t support Australian dog owners such as challenging dog ownership by removing their property status, restrict breeding and banning certain breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, thus limiting the number of dogs available to Australians, especially purebred dogs."

“They aim to have Australians purchase only rehoming dogs from animal shelters and rescue which inhibits the ability of families to select a type of dog or cat of their choice for size temperament or suitability to lifestyle.”

Last year, the Companion Animals Amendment Bill passed in the Upper House but there wasn’t enough time for it to pass in the lower house and become legislation, but if they obtain a seat in the upcoming election, this could change.

“The result will be consumers being forced online to buy pet dogs from unregulated breeders, risk being scammed out of thousands of dollars and potentially end up with a poorly bred dog with health or behavioural problems. This will be a huge incentive for unlicensed backyard operators, while ethnical registered breeders will be impacted. NSW is already the most heavily regulated state for companion animals,” said Brand.

Professor Claire Wade, University Chair of Computational Biology and Animal Genetics, said that the Companion Animals’ Bill amendments shown have no rationale in science and are discriminatory against dogs with recorded pedigrees and breeders that employ genetic testing.

“The rules would do nothing to prevent poor breeding practices in unmonitored breeding establishments. Legitimate breeding organisations already have ethical standards that support the outcomes that these poorly worded rules seek – those are the breeding together of healthy individuals, the application of sensible genetic and physical testing, and the prevention of breeding together of first-order relatives.

“We agree that all breeders should be held to the same standard, but the amendments as shown do nothing to support that. No part of the proposed Bill is either justifiable or desirable from any perspective, and particularly not from an animal welfare or animal genetic health perspective.”

DOGS NSW believe the AJP and Greens policies will create a scarcity of puppies and dogs in NSW, drive up prices, and foster the black-market trade in puppies that undermines welfare. 

Instead, Brand says the government need to focus on addressing the real issue to capture non-compliant dog and cat breeders.

“We need to encourage the public to buy puppies only if they have certificates of vaccination and are microchipped. This is already mandatory in NSW when selling a puppy in this state. It’s also the policy of professional and ethical dog breeding organisations like DOGS NSW and dog rescues such as the RSPCA. Puppies aren’t legally allowed to be sold under eight weeks of age and need to be microchipped before 12 weeks and vaccinated between 6-8 weeks,” said Brand.

**Reposted from Pet Industry News