Standards that Puppy Buyers Should Know

This is a guide for people searching for a dog to purchase. These are the standards that are relevant when looking to buy or sell a dog within South Australia. Please note that this is not a complete list of the standards relevant to ALL dog owners or breeders. For a full list please refer to the DCMB (Dog and Cat Management Board).

 

These standards and guidelines do not apply in any way to:

 

  1. animals that are given away.

 

And in relation to dogs the standards and guidelines do not apply in any way to:

 

  • a person who finds a stray dog or litter of puppies on their property and, abiding by lawful processes:

 

  1. takes ownership of the animal and does not subsequently breed it, or

  2. euthanizes it, or

  3. transfers it to a council or other person(s) or entity, or

  4. takes it to a pound or shelter.

 

  • a person who rehomes their dog as a once-off event because they can no longer keep it.

 

  • a council which gives a dog to a shelter or person as an unfettered gift.

 

General defence

A general defence applies to the standards contained in this document. To be applicable, the defendant must establish that his or her failure to comply:

 

  1. was the result of acting on advice from a veterinarian, or the owner or an assistant reasonably considers that the non-compliance:

  2. was in the welfare interests of the animal, or

  3. was in the interests of other animals or

  4. was necessary for workplace health and safety or public safety reasons.

 

Colour guide:

 

Standards that apply to specific groups are written in text that is colour coded specifically for that group or groups.

 

Key:

Pink: Relevant to dog breeders

Green: Relevant to Shops only

Blue: Relevant to ALL Sellers of dogs

Yellow: Relevant to ALL owners of dogs

 

 

From the 1st August 2017:

 

Records:

 

Sellers must be able to produce a record of the following (to be kept for a minimum of 2 years after sale):

 

for each dog in their possession, to the best of their knowledge and in a manner that is commensurate with the size of the enterprise:

 

  • sex (including whether desexed)

  • species and breed

  • colour

  • microchip number

  • distinguishing features

  • any special medical and dietary requirements

  • the name of the animal (if named)

  • the history of the animal (as far as possible) which includes:

  1. date of birth

  2. the date of acquisition/transfer to the current owner

  3. vaccination status

  4. details of preventative and veterinary treatment, for example routine husbandry procedures such as worming or parasite control

  5. details of medical history

  6. any genetic or other health testing undertaken

  7. the date of disposal/transfer to the client

 

  • if the animal is leased or on consignment:

 

  1. the name, address and telephone number of the person from whom the animal is leased or consigned

  2. the name and telephone number of the veterinarian who normally attends the animal (if requested by the person from whom the animal is being leased or consigned)

 

 for each dog litter bred:

 

  • the name and microchip number of both the dam and sire (if known)

  • the date of mating (if known)

  • the date of birth

  • the number of puppies or kittens in the litter

  • identification details for each surviving animal within the litter.

 

 records of the information required to be given to buyers under Section 71 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 19952.

 

Transfer of Ownership

Standards

 

Age at transfer of ownership

 

  • Unweaned animals must not be accepted by facilities unless the facility has adequate resources and expertise for their artificial feeding and care or euthanasia.

  • All animals must be fully able to feed independently (i.e. without a parent) when their ownership is transferred to a client.

  • Prior to the transfer of ownership to a client puppies must be fully weaned and have been on an established diet for at least a week.

  • Owners operating from shops and temporary public venues must not transfer the ownership of puppies unless they are at least seven weeks old.

 

Parasite treatments

 

  • Animals must be treated for internal and external parasites as appropriate to their species (other than heartworm in dogs) prior to transfer of ownership to safeguard the health of the animals and of people who might handle them.

 

Disclosure of characteristics

 

  • The ownership of an animal known or suspected of:

 

  1. being ill, injured or diseased (including congenital diseases)

  2. being aggressive

  3. being pregnant

  4. being poorly socialised

  5. being deformed (if the long term prognosis is poor)

  6. having known characteristics such as biting, aggression, digging, chewing or being destructive;

 

  • can only be transferred if, prior to transfer, there is full verbal and written disclosure of:

 

  1. the nature of the condition

  2. the appropriate management of the condition, including treatment options

  3. any likely change in longevity of the animal

  4. a realistic estimate of the cost of managing the condition

  5. the likely impact on the client and/or their property.

 

  • The ownership of a species that requires specialist feeding techniques can only be transferred if, prior to transfer, there is full verbal and written disclosure of feeding instructions.

  • The characteristics of an animal must not be misrepresented and any pertinent information must not be withheld. Information is to be provided to clients

 

At the time of, or prior to, the transfer of ownership the client must be offered information at no charge regarding the care of animals purchased and must be permitted to ask reasonable questions of the seller and receive accurate responses.

The information offered must include:

 

  1. parasite and disease detection, prevention and treatment

  2. the responsibilities inherent in companion animal ownership

  3. the general care, housing and management of the animal

  4. the appropriate diet for the animal (or a diet sheet)

  5. the legal requirements of keeping the species, including permits; and in reference to the particular animal being purchased:

  6. any particular species and breed requirements or characteristics, which may impact on its welfare and suitability in the intended home

  7. any individual requirements or characteristics such as the reason that a previous owner is trading or has surrendered the animal.

 

Prescribed breeds of dog

 

  • The ownership of a dog of a prescribed breed must not be transferred.

 

Information required by the Dog and Cat Management Act 19953

 

  • At the time of, or prior to, the transfer of ownership of a dog, clients must be provided with information required by Section 71 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.

 

Any advertisement for the sale of a dog must provide the information required by Section 71 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.

 

 

Breeding of Dogs, Care of Dams and Rearing of Young

General Requirements

Standards

 

Suitability for breeding

  • The owner must not permit a bitch to have more than five litters over her lifetime unless a veterinarian has certified in writing that she is fit to do so.

  • Dogs known or suspected to be suffering from a significant infectious disease must not be used for breeding or be accepted for breeding under lease unless under written approval from a veterinarian.

  • If the owner knows, or reasonably ought to know, that a particular mating has a high probability of resulting in a serious hereditary defect (e.g. mating two dogs with severe hip dysplasia or clinical progressive retinal atrophy), which is likely to compromise the health or welfare of offspring, the owner must not allow that mating to occur unless the mating is approved by an animal ethics committee established in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1985.

  • Dogs that are excessively nervous, aggressive or are otherwise of poor temperament must not be bred.

  • A person must not breed a dog of a prescribed breed.

 

From 1st July 2018

 

Microchipping:

 

  • The owner of a dog must ensure that the dog is microchipped

  • A person must not sell a dog unless the dog has been microchipped

 

Desexing:

 

  • The owner of a dog must ensure that the dog is desexed by the age of 6 months (for dogs born after 1st July 2018)

    This does not apply in relation to:

  1. working dogs,
  2. an animal welfare organisation,
  3. a person registered as a breeder with the DCMB,
  4. a person who is a member of an exempted body (Incl. Dogs SA / ANKC)
  5. a dog that is not usually kept within the State
  6. a dog who has written exemption for a stated period of time by a veterinarian for health reasons

 

Trade/Selling dogs:

 

  • A person must not sell a dog that he or she has bred unless:

 

  1. he or she is registered as a breeder with the DCMB; or

  2. he or she is registered (however described) as a breeder with an approved representative body (incl. Dogs SA / ANKC members); or

  3. he or she is registered as a breeder under a law of another jurisdiction dealing with the breeding of dogs.

 

  • A person who sells a dog must give to the new owner a written notice setting out the information required by the regulations relating to:

 

  1. the identity of the seller of the dog; and
  2. the identity of the breeder or breeders of the dog; and
  3. vaccinations and other treatments given to the dog; and
  4. the dog's microchip; and
  5. a sale of the relevant kind.

 

Advertising Dogs for Trade/Sale:

 

  • A person who publishes an advertisement in relation to the sale of a dog must ensure that the advertisement contains the information required by the regulations relating to:

 

  1. the identity of the seller of the dog; and
  2. the identity of the breeder or breeders of the dog; and
  3. vaccinations and other treatments given to the dog; and
  4. the dog's microchip; and
  5. an advertisement of the relevant kind.

 

 

Source: DCMB, South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals, http://tellus.sa.gov.au/index.php/591227/lang-en