Latest update for the Western Australian new dog laws.

UPDATE ON TIMING OF PROVISIONS OF THE STOP PUPPY FARMING ACT COMING INTO EFFECT.

It is currently anticipated that the provisions of the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2021 (SPF Act) will come into effect by the end of 2024, this will include the introduction of a centralised registration system (CRS), which will unify the individual registers of dogs that local governments currently keep.

When the CRS is launched, all dog owners will be issued an individual dog owner number.

When advertising any dog for sale, the dog owner number of the seller will be required to be included in any advertisement, irrespective of whether that person is a breeder or selling an adult dog.

Once the SPF Act comes into effect, dogs are required to be sterilised unless they are exempt. Exempt dogs include those that are:

+registered with a local government at the time the laws come into effect

+exempted by a veterinarian for health reasons

+owned by a person who holds an approval to breed

+greyhounds registered with Racing and Wagering WA

+primarily kept to be used in the droving or tending of stock

+sterile

+of a class prescribed in the Regulations (yet to be determined if there are any additional exempt classes of dogs).

Anyone who wishes to keep an unsterilised dog that is not otherwise exempt will be required to apply to their local government for approval to breed, which is a once-off application valid until it is cancelled or the person moves to a new local government district. Any dog that is exempt from sterilisation requirements but is intended to be used for breeding or accidentally breeds will also be required to apply for an approval to breed.

I hope this information is of assistance to you.