CHOICE magazine investigation into puppy mills

A recent CHOICE Magazine report on puppy purchases, warned people to be extremely cautious when purchasing puppies from unregistered breeders to avoid common health problems.

"Unlike pedigree dogs, these (designer dogs) are not considered 'breeds' because they're not registered with the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) and the breeders aren't scrutinised for their breeding practices. This is why buyers should be extremely careful when purchasing a hybrid puppy."

Many designer dog breeders now sell over the internet and while there are many reputable sellers, you run the risk of not getting the puppy you expect if you don't visit the premises personally.

'Backyard' breeding is not illegal in Australia. Although all breeders are required by law to ensure that they follow the animal welfare code, it's often difficult to monitor as there are no regular audits.

According to Animal Liberation Victoria, puppy farms are common in Australia. The operations range from 80 dogs to anywhere up to 1000 dogs. The majority of these premises hold about 300-400 dogs.

Although all animal breeders are required to comply with the Domestic Animals Act , the RSPCA needs permission from an owner to enter a property, so they can only follow up complaints but can't carry out routine checks.

From: CHOICE