Labor is reviewing Victoria's dog breeding laws to ensure sure they continue to protect animal welfare.
Victorians love their pets and expect them to come from responsible breeders.
That's why we're reviewing the Domestic Animals Act 1994 to make sure our laws continue to reflect public expectations and uphold high standards of animal care.
The review will focus on commercial dog breeders.
It will consider whether the current limit of 50 fertile female dogs per breeder continues to meet modern animal welfare standards.
It will also consider whether the laws reflect community expectations about how dogs are bred and cared for.
Currently, breeders with 11 to 50 fertile female dogs must first register with their local council as a breeding business and then receive approval from the Minister for Agriculture to operate as a commercial dog breeder.
Victoria was the first state to introduce stronger laws to stop puppy farming and improve animal welfare - leading the way for other jurisdictions to do the same.
Those reforms introduced limits on breeder numbers and strengthened regulation of dog breeding and pet sales.
Last year, we created new laws to improve animal welfare and support shelters, rehoming organisations and volunteers through a new voluntary scheme.
Now, we are continuing to strengthen Victoria's animal welfare laws to ensure they remain effective, support responsible breeding practices and deliver the best outcomes for cats and dogs across the state.
We're investing in the RSPCA through the Victorian Budget 2026/27 so it can continue delivering the vital animal welfare services Victorians rely on.
Labor has zero tolerance for animal cruelty and will always back strong laws to protect animals across Victoria.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle
"Victorians love their pets and expect them to come from responsible, caring breeders, which is why we're making sure our laws keep pace with community expectations and protect animal welfare."
"We led the nation with our puppy farm reforms, and this review will ensure Victoria continues to set the standard for responsible breeding and animal care."
