The Legal Age of Sale or Gifting of Puppies in Australia

There are a number of theories about how old or how young a puppy should be when it goes to it's new home but these are not relevant to this particular Paws for Thought post. Instead they will be dealt with by a later post.

This post is about the results of some research I did last year, and checked again this year, into the law in each Australian State and Territory and what they have to say about the legal age for selling or giving away puppies. The results might surprise you. Oh and don't assume that because the codes etc may only have pet shops in their title that this doesn't cover breeders (registered and not) - see the ACT example for instance.

Research results and links

• Northern Territory (NT)

• The minimum age of sale for puppies is 8 weeks - check out the NT Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Animals in Retail Pet Shops at http://www.dlgh.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/47991/Guidelines_Retail_Pet_Shops.pdf

• Queensland (QLD)

• The minimum age of puppies for acquisition for sale for sale, subject to maturity, should be eight weeks of age (seven weeks for large breeds) - Check out the QLD Code of Practice for Pet Shops at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_12496.htm

• New South Wales (NSW)

• No puppy may be sold before it is 8 weeks of age - Check out the NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 6 – Breeding Dogs at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/general/guidelines/aw-code-6
    
• The minimum age of animals offered for sale or advertised must be 8 weeks for dog - Check out the NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Animals in Pet Shops at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/244018/Animal-welfare-code-of-practice-animals-in-pet-shops.pdf

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

•  Puppies must stay with their mother and siblings until they have attained 8 weeks of age except under exceptional circumstances -Check out the ACT Code of Practice for Pet Shops at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/57162/petshopscop.pdf  and be aware that the code explicitly states that it covers anyone selling puppies or kittens in the ACT

• Victoria (VIC)

• The minimum age of dogs for sale must be 8 weeks - Check out the VIC Code of Practice for Breeding and Rearing Establishments at http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/C757A284948AA4A4CA257601001B6D6818CDE14E012AB3A0CA2573FA000E0AC8/$file/01229%20COP%20Breeding%20%26%20Rearing%20V2.pdf
     
• Puppies must not be separated from their mother until 7 weeks of age and not be sold or given away before 8 weeks of age - Check out the VIC Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Dogs at http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfa.nsf/93a98744f6ec41bd4a256c8e00013aa9/370be9480dc32be3ca2573af00072640/$FILE/ATTH7PL7/Dog%20code.pdf  

• South Australia (SA)

• Puppies must not be sold until they have reached the age of 7 weeks - Check out the SA Code of Practice for the care and management of animals in the pet trade at http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/animalwelfare/pdfs/pet_05.pdf  

• Tasmania (TAS)

• I couldn't find any references and have a request for info in with the TAS government - who responded that there is no specific legislation on this topic in Tasmania. 

• Western Australia (WA)

• I couldn't find any references so contacted the WA Government and they responded saying they were not aware of any legislation in this area.

So buyer beware - and seller or gifter make sure you're acting legally.