All your questions answered about Queensland’s new legislation on dog and puppy ownership

*This information has been provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Biosecurity Queensland*

New laws for dog breeders

Many Queenslanders are concerned about the welfare of dogs and puppies sold and supplied in Queensland, so the Queensland Government has amended the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 to include new laws that promote the responsible breeding of dogs.

The new laws only apply to dogs born on or after 26 May 2017. Dogs born before this date are not affected. By law, authorised microchip implanters must ensure that a valid supply number (that identifies the registered breeder of the dog) is included in the microchip information of all dogs born on or after this date.

You can check if a supply number is valid on the Queensland Dog Breeder Register website at qdbr.daf.qld.gov.au.

FAST FACTS

  • The new laws for dog breeders only apply to dogs born on or after 26 May 2017.
  • Dogs born before this date are not affected.
  • The laws apply to all people breeding dogs, including professional, occasional and accidental breeders.
  • The laws apply to occasional, unplanned and planned litters.
  • A breeder is any person who has a female dog with a litter.
  • A person giving away, selling or advertising dogs or puppies must have a supply number, which may be a breeder exemption number if the person is eligible for an exemption.
  • The supply number must be included in the dog’s microchip information.
  • A supply number is available online when registering as a breeder.
  • There are penalties if a dog or puppy born on or after 26 May 2017 is given away, sold or advertised without a supply number.
  • You can check the Queensland Dog Breeder Register to ensure a supply number is valid.
  • Authorised microchip implanters must ensure that the supply number is included in the microchip information that is sent to the Microchip Register.
  • The only breeders who don’t need a supply number are primary producers who breed puppies to be kept by primary producers as working dogs.

A supply number is mandatory

The new laws require all persons giving away, selling or advertising dogs or puppies to have a supply number that identifies them as the registered breeder of that dog.

A dog breeder is a person who has a female dog with a litter. Any person who is a breeder must have a supply number.

The laws apply to anyone who breeds a dog, including professional or occasional breeders, ‘mum and dad’ breeders, ‘accidental’ breeders and people who give away dogs or puppies.

The supply number must be included in the dog’s microchip information. It will identify all dogs and puppies from that breeder and provides lifetime traceability of a dog’s origin.

A supply number can be any one of the following:

  • breeder identification number—available online when registering as a breeder
  • breeder’s membership number—provided by a breeder organisation that accredits dog breeders and is approved by the Minister as an ‘approved entity’
  • breeder permit number—provided by a local government issuing permits/registrations to dog breeders and approved by the Minister as an ‘approved entity’
  • a unique number that identifies a person as a recognised interstate breeder—provided within their state
  • breeder exemption number—available to eligible people who qualify for breeder exemption.

A person who has a female dog with a litter and does not already have a supply number must apply for a breeder identification number within 28 days of the litter being born.

A dog or puppy must not be given away, sold or advertised without a supply number. The supply number must be displayed whenever a dog or puppy is given away, sold or advertised.

All breeders and suppliers, including pet shops, must display the supply number when giving away, selling or advertising dogs and puppies.

Q&As

Who is exempt and when is a breeder exemption number required?
Primary producers that breed working dogs do not have to register as breeders, as long as they supply all puppies to other primary producers as working dogs.

However, primary producers who breed working dogs must register as a breeder if they supply any dogs for purposes other than as working dogs.

For primary producers, the breeder exemption number is only applicable if:

  • they are a primary producer who has a working dog that they did not breed and they wish to give away, sell or advertise the dog to a person who:

–    is not a primary producer
or
–    is not going to keep the dog as a working dog.

In this case, the breeder exemption number must be used as the supply number and included in the microchip information for the dog.

A person may also be eligible for a breeder exemption if:

  • they are the owner of, or responsible person for, a dog and
  • they did not breed the dog and
  • they do not conduct a business activity that includes the supply of dogs.

If a person qualifies for a breeder exemption, they must create an online account and apply for a breeder exemption number through the Queensland Dog Breeder Register. A different number is required for each individual dog or puppy that is given away, sold or advertised under these circumstances. The breeder exemption number must be used as the supply number and included in the microchip information for the dog.

What if the dog is born outside Queensland and doesn’t have a supply number? If a dog is born in another state or territory, was supplied to the person in that state or territory and was then brought into Queensland, no supply number is required in the microchip information. However, if a dog born outside of Queensland is microchipped and supplied in Queensland, a supply number must be included in its microchip information.

What if I’m asked to implant an animal without a supply number?
The supply number is mandatory microchip information. Just as an implanter would not be complying with the legislation if they did not include details of the dog’s owner, they would also not be complying with legislation if they did not include a supply number when they microchipped the dog.

You can advise your clients to apply online for a breeder identification number or breeder exemption number or use their accreditation number from an approved entity. Any of these can be used as a valid supply number.

What if I don’t include a valid supply number in the microchip information?
A dog’s supply number must be included in the microchip information. An implanter who microchips a dog must provide the microchip information to a licensed registry within seven days. Penalties may apply if an implanter does not include the supply number in the dog’s microchip information.

Supply numbers can be checked on the Queensland Dog Breeder Register.

More information

For more information, visit the Biosecurity Queensland website at

www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

To confirm a supply number or report concerns, visit the Queensland Dog Breeder Register website at qdbr.daf.qld.gov.au.