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A sad looking dog in puppy factory looking at the camera through a gap in the concrete and wire enclosure.

How big is the puppy factory problem?

Are puppy factories still a problem in Australia? And just what is a backyard breeder? Discover the truth, and what you can do to help.

Animals Australia

Animals Australia team

Last updated March 29, 2015

At  ‘best’,  puppy factories use dogs as breeding machines – and deprive them of the love and companionship every one of them needs. At worst, they can be a living hell for the animals confined within them.

Dogs in puppy factories will never chase a ball at the park, never run on the beach and never have the opportunity to curl up on the couch at night with their human family.  In puppy factories, these animals are deprived of even their most basic needs – frequent food, water, medical care, and the very thing they have evolved to crave from us: care and companionship.

Investigations in 2015 revealed dogs being kept in what can only be described as ‘upright tombs’, denied sunlight, and forced to eat, sleep and ‘live’ in faeces-littered cages.  Sadly, almost 10 years later – investigations show puppy factories also known as ‘farms’ are still strongly in operation throughout Australia.

A small dog with long ears and sad eyes rests on a blanket, in an office. She is nursing two tiny brown puppies who are so small they look like small mice.
This beautiful mother was rescued from a puppy farm in Western Australia (WA) in 2023. Found living in squalid conditions and bred solely for profit, she and other dogs found on the property had no access to vital medical care after she'd given birth, or adequate food..
Image Credit: RSPCA WA
Found at the same puppy farm in WA, this young girl was living in a cardboard box and nearly starved to death. According to the RSPCA, in just the year 2023 alone, over 800 puppies were reported and found suffering and subjected to cruelty in puppy factories across the state.
Image Credit: RSPCA WA
A small white dog stares straight at the camera as she hides in a shelf, surrounded by other white dogs, dirty walls and old aluminum tins.
Afraid, and surrounded by hundreds of other dogs just like her, investigators described this puppy factory in South Australia as horrific... "Encrusted and hardened dirt, faeces and hair covered all floors. Dirt extended up walls and over benchtops and heavy cobwebs hung from the ceilings," RSPCA South Australia
Image Credit: RSCPA South Australia
frightened husky covering inside puppy factory
The fear displayed by this husky is very common among dogs in puppy factories who haven't been given the opportunity to properly socialise with other dogs or people.
sad and lonely collie looking through wire bars from inside puppy factory
Just because a breeder is a 'registered' breeder, or breeds 'show dogs', doesn't make them immune from also being puppy farmers. This beautiful girl was discovered inside a puppy factory operated by a well known pedigree show dog breeder in Victoria.

How many puppies come from puppy factories?

It comes as a shock to caring dog lovers to discover that many of Australia’s puppies sold online or in pet shops were born in inhumane puppy factories like these.

  • According  to the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), around 450,000 puppies are sold in Australia each year.
  • 43% of puppies purchased are from people who are registered as a breeder in their state or territory. But, only around 15% of those puppies purchased are bough from breeders registered with Australia’s peak companion animal breeding associations.
  • Approximately 15% of puppies are purchased through pet shops, with the vast majority of purchases happening online.

Online sales are totally unregulated. Each day sites like The Trading Post and Gumtree offer thousands of puppies for sale, with concerns that many of these puppies come from puppy factories.  

Puppy farmers know that caring people would be horrified to see the true conditions their dogs are kept and living in.

Selling through pet shops or online allows unscrupulous breeders to hide from unsuspecting customers where these puppies are born, and how their parents and siblings are treated. They may employ fancy websites and glossy ads of happy, healthy dogs, and offer to ‘deliver the pup to you’ or meet you at your local park. These are all huge red flags that could mean a seller is not willing to have you see where the puppy is born, or the conditions in which they live.

Sadly, the cruelty inherent in puppy factories — lack of exercise, minimal human interaction and social enrichment — can be entirely legal. Victoria is the only state in Australia with meaningful legislation that mitigates some of the problems associated with puppy farming, however this does not prevent animals from puppy farms interestate being shipped into Victoria to be sold. While some Australian puppy factories breach cruelty laws, many others operate completely within regulations. It can be legal to keep a mother dog confined to a barren concrete cell in a shed for 23 hours a day, churning out litter after litter of puppies, and denying her everything that makes a dog’s life worth living.

How many puppies come from puppy factories in Australia?

It comes as a shock to caring dog lovers to discover that many Australian puppies sold online or in pet shops were born in inhumane puppy factories.

According to the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), around 450,000 puppies are sold in Australia each year. Only around 15% of puppies are sold through breeders registered with Australia’s peak companion animal breeding associations.

Approximately 15% of puppies are sold through pet shops, with the vast majority of sales occurring online. Online sales are totally unregulated. Each day sites like The Trading Post and Gumtree offer thousands of puppies for sale, with concerns that many of these puppies come from puppy factories.

Why does puppy factory cruelty continue?

Puppy farmers know that caring people would be horrified to know the conditions their dogs are living in.

Selling through pet shops or online allows unscrupulous breeders to hide from unsuspecting customers where these puppies are born, and how their parents are treated. They may employ fancy websites and glossy ads of happy, healthy dogs, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

What about ‘registered’ breeders?

Many people look for ‘registered’ breeders to avoid buying from puppy factories, but the term in itself is no guarantee. Current laws are inadequate and oversight of these laws is minimal. Inhumane puppy factories may simply be ‘registered’ as a business, and even registration with official dog breeding associations does not always ensure appropriate treatment.

The only way to know where a puppy came from, and what conditions their parents live in, is to visit the property to see for yourself.

What about ‘pedigree’ breeders?

Pedigree dog breeders are members of canine associations and their peak body, the Australian National Kennel Council. The ANKC’s Code of Ethics states members should not breed or sell dogs for the commercial pet market. However, membership with a canine association is not a guarantee in itself that conditions in which dogs are raised and housed are appropriate. A responsible pedigree dog breeder will vet you as stringently as you vet them. They will be open to questions, to you visiting their property and to you meeting your new pup’s parents.

Is this a problem specific to one breed?

No. This is about the breeder, not the breed. Investigations into puppy factories have revealed that both purebred and mixed-breed dogs are victims of puppy farming. Popular cross-breeds such as spoodles, cavoodles, labradoodles and Shih Tzu-Maltese crosses are routinely produced in puppy factories. However, as shown in our TV ad, and as investigations have revealed, pure breeds such as labradors, golden retrievers, boxers, spaniels, cavaliers, pugs, beagles and even border collies have been found in puppy factories. No breed or cross-breed is safe from unscrupulous breeders, which is why dogs need the community to be vigilant if inhumane puppy factories are to be stamped out.

What’s the best way to find a puppy?

  • The simplest and most direct action you can take to end puppy factory cruelty is to adopt from a rescue group or shelter.
  • Trust your gut. If someone is willing to sell you a puppy sight unseen, ship them interstate, or asks to meet you in a public place to hand over the puppy, it is likely they have something to hide.
  • Knowledge is power. Laws have left dogs and puppies exposed. It’s up to compassionate Australians to change the future for them. Share this with family and friends to help spread the word about puppy farm cruelty!

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By adopting your next four-legged best friend, you will not only ensure you aren‘t unwittingly supporting a cruel puppy factory — you will also save a life. Rescue pets come in all shapes, sizes, breeds, ages, and are suitable for every lifestyle and home. All they are missing is someone to love.
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