Reporting animal welfare concerns

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Puppy Farming) Act 2024 No 85, new laws have been introduced to strengthen the welfare of dogs bred in New South Wales.

If you suspect or become aware of poor, unlawful, or non-compliant dog breeding practices, you can make a report to an appropriate enforcement agency.

This includes concerns such as:

• Failure to obtain or use a required breeder identification number (BIN) or rehoming organisation number (RON)
• Exceeding the maximum number of non-desexed female adult dogs permitted on a premises
• Not meeting minimum staff to dog ratios
• Providing incorrect or incomplete information when selling or transferring a dog
• Breaching lifetime breeding limits, including limits on total litters or caesarean births

Important note: Individuals and businesses breeding dogs for a fee or reward and those litters that were not accidental must comply to the standards in the Animal Welfare Code of Practice breeding cats and dogs.

From 1 December 2029, compliance with the Code will be mandatory for all dog breeders, regardless of whether the breeding was intentional or otherwise, or for fee or reward.

To make a complaint under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 about the treatment or condition of an animal in:

• a zoo, fauna park, or oceanarium
• a circus
• a mobile reptile display
• a mobile animal nursery or
• some other type of animal exhibit

Email: quarantine@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1800 680 244

To make a complaint about the treatment of animals used in research or teaching in NSW, please contact the Biosecurity and Food Safety Complaints investigation unit

Email: quarantine@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1800 680 244