Dogs are an important part of many Western Australian families and promoting responsible ownership and the future health and welfare of dogs is a key priority for the State Government.
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The Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2021 was passed by Parliament in December 2021, changing the Dog Act 1976 to better regulate the breeding of dogs in Western Australia.
The changes will give local governments the tools to deal with irresponsible dog breeders, improve animal welfare and encourage responsible dog ownership through public awareness.
From 23 December 2021, pet or retired racing greyhounds are not required to wear a muzzle but must be kept on a lead in a public place.
Registered racing greyhounds continue to be required to wear muzzles in all public places.
Since the Act was passed, DLGSC has been working to fully enact the new legislation by developing new regulations, and progressing work to introduce a new centralised registration system for dogs and cats, known as PetsWA.
Transitioning pet shops to adoption centres for puppies and dogs is a key element of the reforms.
Under the recent Dog Amendment Regulation 2024, pet shops that wish to continue selling dogs will need to obtain a ‘pet shop approval’ from their local government. This will need to be obtained by 26 May 2025.
Approved pet shops will only be able to supply dogs sourced from a refuge organisation or dog management facility that has obtained a ‘dog supply approval’ from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC).
Local governments are responsible for assessing ‘pet shop approval’ applications from pet shops in their district.
Approval can be granted to a pet shop for one year, unless cancelled earlier. Local governments will only be able to refuse an application on the grounds set out in the legislation.
Local governments will also be responsible for cancelling pet shop approvals when necessary and can require a holder of a ‘pet shop approval’ or a ‘dog supply approval’ to provide evidence to the local government.
DLGSC is responsible for assessing ‘dog supply approval’ applications from refuges and dog management facilities and cancelling dog supply approvals when necessary. A dog supply approval is required to supply dogs to approved pet shops, however refuge operations and dog management facilities are still able to supply dogs direct to the public.
Existing pet shops will have until 26 May 2025 to transition their pet shop business to become an adoption centre for dogs and obtain a ‘pet shop approval’ from the local government in their district. It is estimated that there are three pet shops currently selling puppies or dogs in Western Australia.
Applications for dog supply approval should be sent to legislation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Application for dog supply approval
Applications for pet shop approval should be sent to the relevant local government authority.
Application for pet shop approval
Since the Act was passed, DLGSC has continued to work to enact the new legislation by developing regulations and progressing work to introduce a new centralised registration system for dogs and cats, known as PetsWA.
Applications for both pet shop and dog supply approvals must be accompanied by a dog care plan.
Regulations prescribe six elements that must be addressed in the dog care plan accompanying applications for pet shop approvals, and five for dog supply approvals.
Both pet shop and dog supply approval applications dog care plans must address:
In addition, dog care plans accompanying pet shop approval applications must also address:
Dog care plans accompanying applications for dog supply approval must also address the terms and conditions for the return of a dog by a pet shop. Staff/volunteer training practices must be addressed in a separate section of the application for dog supply approval.
It is important to note that these elements are a minimum standard for dog care plans — applicants must address all required elements, however they can also elect to provide additional detail if relevant to their application.
For further information about these reforms please email: stoppuppyfarming@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The contract to develop WA’s new centralised registration system for cats and dogs in Western Australia was awarded on 2 August 2024.
Expected to launch in the second half of 2025, PetsWA will replace the dog and cat registers managed by individual local governments with a single online system, used state-wide.
PetsWA is being designed to identify and stamp out potential cases of puppy farming, through improved data collection and visibility of pet registrations, breeders and transfers across WA.
PetsWA will allow dog and cat owners to easily register their pets, update their details, supply documentation and make payments online.
Local governments will approve online applications and confirm registrations. Options to register cats and dogs in person by visiting their local government in person will remain.
All dog owners or dogs registered with local government will be given a unique ‘dog owner number’ that will be available on the PetsWA system.
If a person transfers a dog, they will need to provide their dog owner number.
This will enable authorities to identify who is supplying dogs and check that have an ‘approval to breed’ if claiming to have bred a dog.
Approved dog breeders will not be issued with a specific ‘dog breeder number’ but will use their ‘dog owner number’ when transferring a dog.
Cat owners will be able to apply for approvals to breed cats through PetsWA.
Registration fees for dogs and cats will be reviewed to cover the ongoing costs of the system in consultation with stakeholders, with new fees where applicable.
The new online system has been informed by engagement with stakeholders, a public consultation process in 2023, and a design and discovery phase to understand the needs of different user groups.
DLGSC is working with local governments to manage data transfer from existing systems during PetsWA’s development.
If you have a query about the new PetsWA system, email petswa@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The changes seek to:
The 2025 provisions will include:
When these laws commence, a person will need to make an ‘approval to breed’ application to their local government in the following circumstances:
Owners of greyhounds that are registered with Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) are exempt from the ‘approval to breed’ requirement because RWWA already regulates and monitors the breeding of racing greyhounds.
Members of dog associations such as Dogs West will be required to apply for an ‘approval to breed’ to enable monitoring of all breeders by local government authorities for compliance with relevant laws.
An ‘approval to breed’ will be a one-off application. When granted, it will apply to all dogs, current and future, owned by that person while they reside in that district, unless otherwise cancelled.
An ‘approval to breed’ is, in effect, an approval to own unsterilised dogs — it has nothing to do with whether the owner is carrying on a business.
An ‘approval to breed’ remains in place until cancelled. The ‘approval to breed’ will enable local governments to:
A local government will be able to refuse an application on the grounds that the applicant:
A local government will be able to attach conditions to the ‘approval to breed’. It can be cancelled by the local government if the dog owner who holds the ‘approval to breed’:
The local government can also cancel an ‘approval to breed’ for the same reasons that they can refuse an application for an ‘approval to breed’ dogs.
The introduction of the requirement to obtain an ‘approval to breed’ with their local government is necessary for the consistent regulation of dog breeding, and to shut down any puppy farms.
Dog owners, including owners of a livestock working dogs, will only be required to pay a fee when they apply for an ‘approval to breed’.
Regulations setting the fees will be drafted and introduced in consultation with stakeholders.
If a person’s ‘approval to breed’ is refused, they can lodge an objection with their local government or appeal the decision to the State Administrative Tribunal.
When these laws commence, it will be mandatory for all dog owners to sterilise their dog by the time the dog reaches 2 years of age, unless it is otherwise exempt.
These provisions will only apply to dogs that are not registered with their local government when the legislation comes into effect.
Exemptions from sterilisation for dogs include:
The registration period for unsterilised dogs will change to annual registrations only. Registration periods for sterilised dogs will remain the same with annual, three year and lifetime registration options available.
Many members of Dogs West keep their dogs unsterilised for show and breeding purposes, following a strict code of ethics within their organisation.
When these laws commence, Dogs West members who wish to keep their dog unsterilised after 2 years of age will be required to apply to the local government for an ‘approval to breed’, like other dog owners. This allows them to keep unsterilised dogs over the age of 2 years. It does not mean the owner has to breed from their dog.
A livestock working dog is a dog that is bona fide used in the droving or tending of stock.
Many owners of livestock working dogs keep their dogs unsterilised to assess whether their dog has desirable traits to be a working dog and should be used for breeding. This may take 3 or 4 years.
Livestock working dogs play a crucial role in the functioning of WA’s livestock industry and will not be required to be sterilised by 2 years of age.
If the owner of a livestock working dog intends to breed from their dog (regardless of the dog’s age), or their dog becomes pregnant (planned or unplanned), they will be required to obtain an approval to breed from their local government.
In addition to the current enforcement powers under the Dog Act 1976, local governments will have additional investigative and enforcement powers under the Act to:
Western Australians are being urged to 'Adopt Don't Shop' and give rescued dogs a second chance by adopting a new household pet.
Adopt, Don't Shop
For more information on where you can adopt a pet, contact:
Website dogshome.org.au Telephone 61 8 9381 8166
Website rspcawa.asn.au Website adoptapet.com.auTelephone 61 8 9209 9300
Website apswa.asn.au Telephone 61 8 9398 6616 Email info@apswa.asn.au
Website swananimalhaven.asn.au Telephone 61 8 9293 2047Telephone 0498 235 680
Website k9dogrescue.org.auTelephone 61 8 9581 9005
Website safe.org.auFor contact details of a relevant branch, visit their website