Wagga’s Lyndy Morris, a registered Dogs NSW breeder, said she was extremely pleased with the government’s decision to start from scratch with their proposed standards and guidelines as they would have had unintended consequences on her businesses. 

“This is an extremely important step that the government has initiated, they need to get this right and by deciding to start from scratch and do the appropriate leg work, I find it extremely refreshing,” she said. 

“It is important to stop the puppy farms and pet shop sales, but equally important to take care we don’t make the breeding of dogs by dedicated, passionate people who have the welfare of dogs at heart legislated beyond reasonable attainment.”

The proposals that they were going to put through were very complex, Ms Morris explained, as it meant all breeders would have needed to house their animals in certain conditions.

“I wouldn’t have been able to whelp my litter inside my home, they would have to be in commercial buildings with concrete floors,” she said. 

The government, Ms Morris said, was looking at it through a narrow lens of trying to stop unethical farms. 

“I would have to have the same facilities as a puppy farm would do and to me that’s not how I want to breed and raise my puppies,” she said.

“The government has done the right thing by stopping and starting over again and taking into consideration what is already in place.”

Wagga MP Daryl Maguire welcomed the announcement and said it was a result of the government’s consultation with stakeholders. 

“The minister has listened to the feedback from stakeholders and has directed the Department of Primary Industries to start again, working from the ground up,” he said in a statement. 

“The majority of dog and cat breeders in this region do the right thing, however, we need to make sure NSW practices meet community expectations.”