21/09/2025
Did you know….?
Shoalhaven Animal Shelter receives numerous calls from people asking advice about breeders and with concerns about the number of people being scammed by people advertising animals for sale that don’t actually exist.
With the increase in the number of people being scammed when trying to add a puppy/kitten into the family, we would strongly recommend that you do not send anyone a deposit for a puppy/kitten that you have not personally met, unless you are 100% sure this is a genuine sale.
Please be mindful that pictures on the internet showing happy & healthy puppies/kittens in a beautiful environment may not be the actual truth. Please do extensive research and look for online reviews of the breeder before making any commitment.
There are specific things you should look for before buying a new puppy/kitten from a breeder.
A good breeder should do the following:
Allow you to visit their premises to inspect the puppy/kitten
Provide a high standard of care and living conditions for their animals, including the mother and father.
Have a genuine love for the animals and only want the best homes for them
Will ensure the puppy/kitten is the best fit for your family
Breed happy, healthy animals without any known genetic disorders
A good breeder should be prepared to answer more in depth questions about the finer details of the breed, what to expect in the adult dog/cat and both the positive and negative aspects of the breed. The breeder should help you with your choice and selection of a puppy/kitten and should be willing to provide ongoing support and advice as your puppy/kitten matures.
Some questions you should be able to ask a breeder are:
Can we visit where the puppy/kitten lives before deciding to purchase one?
Can we see the mother and father of the animal?
At what age can we take the pup/kitten home?
When have the pups/kittens been wormed & vaccinated? They should be treated for worms from 2-3 weeks old and have had their first vaccination at approximately 6-7 weeks old. You should be given proof of any treatments & vaccinations given.
When visiting a breeder, you should take note of the following:
The dogs/cats living quarters should be clean and all animals well cared for. The puppies/kittens should be clean, well-conditioned, lively and friendly.
Responsible breeders should show you all the dogs/cats on the premises. The condition and temperament of the adult dogs/cats can be a reflection on how they raise the pups/kittens.
Pups/kittens should not leave their mother and the breeder until they are at least 8 weeks of age. Vaccination records, registration certificates, a copy of the pedigree, microchip details (which is a legal requirement in NSW), a puppy care and diet sheet should be available to you when or before you collect your puppy.
APART FROM REGISTRATION/PEDIGREE CERTIFICATES, ALL OF THE ABOVE ALSO APPLIES TO ‘BACKYARD BREEDERS’
Anyone selling or giving away a puppy/kitten MUST by law have them microchipped prior to going to their new home.
Shelter staff constantly have people coming in to have their puppy/kitten microchipped, which is NOT the responsibility of the new owner, IT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE BREEDER. Anyone breeding a dog/cat needs to keep records of each animal’s microchip details, failure to do so can result in fines for each animal they have sell or given away.
It is also the breeder’s legal responsibility to ensure the Change of Owner paperwork is sent to Council to have the microchip details are updated. Breeders SHOULD NOT be giving the paperwork to the new owner to submit to Council. Breeders can be fined for not updating ownership details within 14 days of selling a pup/kitten.
People breeding (either accidently or intentional) need to start taking responsibility for the pups/kittens they are producing and do what is required by law and for the welfare of the animal.
If you have a litter of puppies or kittens and aren’t sure what your legal requirements are, please give the shelter a call and we can advise you.
