News
30 August, 2025
Calls to reform breeder regulations
RSPCA Queensland has called for stronger regulations to stop puppy farms, as they receive around 230 complaints about dog breeding, ranging from backyard set-ups to large-scale puppy farms, every year.
In Queensland, anyone breeding a dog must hold a Supply Number (SN), also called a Breeder Identification Number (BIN). Introduced in 2017, the system was intended to ensure every puppy can be traced back to its breeder.
Despite this, investigations continue to uncover breeders selling dogs without a SN, providing false details, or avoiding direct contact with buyers.
Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPCA Queensland, Rachel Woodrow, said SNs should give buyers confidence that a breeder is legitimate and that the dogs have been bred responsibly, but added “the system isn’t working.”
Major flaws include no verification of breeder details, multiple SNs per breeder, no link to council permits, loopholes for pet shops, and little enforcement.
“Without proper verification and enforcement, dogs will keep suffering, and the public will continue to be misled,” Ms Woodrow said.
RSPCA Queensland is calling for urgent reform, including verifying breeder identity, limiting one SN per breeder, recording breeding categories and numbers, linking SNs to council permits, and conducting random audits.
