[Greens-Media] Govt Must Do More to Eliminate Puppy Factories and Protect Whistleblowers

[Franks, Office]

June 11, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE: Govt Must Do More to Eliminate Puppy Factories and Protect Whistleblowers

Greens' Animal Welfare spokesperson Tammy Franks has commended the work of animal welfare campaigners in ensuring the removal of dogs from a squalid puppy factory in the Adelaide Hills.

Ms Franks says this case underscores why SA laws must ensure that filming footage in the public interest is not made an offence. Currently the Surveillance Devices Bill 2012 is before the Parliament's Legislative Review Committee. The Greens are urging that consideration be given as to how the bill can preserve the role of animal welfare groups exposing abuses.
"I congratulate Oscar's Law and the Paw Project for capturing this evidence and working to expose this latest potential 'puppy factory', then working with the RSPCA to ensure the swift removal of these animals from these seemingly appalling conditions, where many are treated as breeding machines," Ms Franks said.

"I also congratulate the members of the Lower House who have worked cross party through the Select Committee on Companion Animals (Dogs and Cats), due to report in the coming sitting weeks.
"However, we must ensure strong laws are urgently put in place to shut down puppy factories. A good start would be to introduce compulsory microchipping of dogs and to ban the sale of companion animals like dogs and cats from pet shops and online trading sites, where impulse purchases are more likely.
"The Greens also call on the Government to work with animal welfare groups to take a proper look at the laws currently before our Parliament to make sure that whistleblowers can't and won't be prosecuted for capturing footage of the potential abuse of animals.

"The call for compulsory microchipping of dogs is both an important part of responsible dog ownership and will also help owners and local councils in dog recovery, control and management," she concluded.

Compulsory micro-chipping is advocated by the Australian Veterinary Association and the RSPCA in SA.
Media enquiries - Lauren Zwaans ph: 0457 549 938

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