11 May 2021 – A new 'Anti-Puppy Farm Legal Clinic' has been established by the Animal Law Institute (ALI) to assist Victorian consumers understand their rights after unknowingly being sold puppies in need of significant veterinary treatment and care.

During the COVID lockdowns, online pet sales skyrocketed in Australia with many people wanting to share their homes with new furry friends.  

Sadly, this consumer trend of buying puppies from online ads was quickly followed by reports of sick animals, high veterinary fees, as well as ongoing medical and emotional costs.

This has left many people wondering what consumer protections they have, and what laws are in place to protect animals from puppy farming.

In response to this consumer issue, the Animal Law Institute (ALI) has established an Anti-Puppy Farm Legal Clinic to assist Victorian consumers with advice about their rights in relation to their sick pet.  

Puppy and kitten farms are commercial breeding facilities where the parent animals are kept, generally in very poor conditions, to be bred repeatedly for their young. Animals kept in intensive breeding facilities may be subject to a host of welfare concerns, including overcrowding, ongoing confinement, over breeding, early infant-mother separation, health complications, a lack of veterinary care and unhygienic housing conditions.

People who have spent thousands of dollars purchasing a puppy are now facing ongoing veterinary bills due to the animal’s poor health, due to their breeding conditions. 

Nala’s story

In July 2018, lawyers from the Animal Law Institute launched legal action against breeders of a beagle-cross named Nala, to hold them accountable for the cruel consequences of their negligent breeding.  

“When Nala was born, she was so severely infested with worms and emaciated that she almost died,” said Erin Germantis.  

“Her family realised something was wrong soon after they purchased her, and sought urgent care. The treating vet reported that Nala's worm infestation would have been passed onto her from her mother in utero.”

Following the hearing, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal handed down its judgment in Nala’s favour. Nala’s breeders were ordered to pay over $15,000 for past and future medical expenses.

Consumer choice can protect buyers and animals

While legal protections and better regulations are welcome, at the heart of this issue is consumer responsibility. It is consumers creating this demand for online pets, so it is the consumer who can end it.

However, if people are determined to buy an animal from a breeder, we suggest that they use our Checklist to ensure they do not support the cruel puppy or kitten farming trade in Australia.

There are different legal avenues through which consumers can seek justice against a breeder or seller (such as a pet store) of a sick pet, depending on the circumstances. One way that consumers can take legal action is through the consumer guarantees in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Consumers can seek legal advice in relation to the ACL from a private law firm or a community legal centre.  

The Animal Law Institute (ALI) is a non-profit, specialist community legal centre that is dedicated to protecting animals and advocating for their interests through the Australian legal system.  

In response to the growing demand for puppies during the COVID-19 pandemic, ALI has established an 'Anti-Puppy Farm Legal Clinic' to assist consumers with advice about their rights under the ACL in relation to their sick pet.  

Preliminary legal advice delivered through this clinic is pro bono (free of charge). The Anti-Puppy Farm Legal Clinic is supported by the Victorian Government.  

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