Australian Capital Territory
Animal Welfare (Breeding Standard) Determination 2015 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2015 – 257 
made under the  
Animal Welfare Act 1992, s 15B (Intensive breeding of cats or dogs)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Animal Welfare (Breeding Standard) Determination 2015 (No 1).
2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the commencement day of the Domestic Animals (Breeding) Legislation Amendment Act 2015. 
3	Determination
The document at schedule 1 is a standard for the breeding of cats or dogs for the purposes of section 15B of the Animal Welfare Act 1992.
Shane Rattenbury MLA
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services

 7 September 2015

BREEDING STANDARD
Section 15B, Animal Welfare Act 1992
Introduction
Section 15B (1) of the Animal Welfare Act 1992 (the Act) provides that the Minister may determine a standard for breeding of cats and dogs.  The purpose of a breeding standard is to prevent the intensive breeding of female cats and dogs.
This document is a breeding standard for the purposes of section 15B of the Act.  It contains mandatory standards for the breeding of cats and dogs.

Under section 15B (4) of the Act, it is an offence for a person who is in charge of a female cat or dog to allow the cat or dog to breed when the person is reckless as to whether the breeding contravenes a breeding standard.
Under section 15B (5) of the Act, it is an offence for a person in charge of a female cat or dog to allow the cat or dog to breed in a way that contravenes a breeding standard if done with the intention of making a profit or commercial gain.
Under section 15B (6) of the Act, these offences do not apply where the person allows the cat or dog to breed in accordance with the written approval of a veterinary surgeon.

Definitions
In this standard:

breed a litter from a dog or cat means to arrange for or allow the dog or cat to become pregnant, provided the animal remains pregnant more than 21 days after mating.

When an animal may breed
1.	A person must not breed a litter from a dog or cat:
(a)	if the dog or cat is not physically healthy; or 
(b)	if the dog or cat, or the animal with which it is mated, is exhibiting signs of or is known to carry a debilitating genetic fault; or
(c)	if the dog or cat, or the animal with which it is mated, is exhibiting signs of or is known to carry a disease transmissible from parent to offspring.

Age for breeding dogs
2.	Subject to this standard, a person may breed a litter from a dog only if the dog is between the ages of 18 months and 6 years. 

Number of litters – dogs
3.	A person must not breed a litter from a dog if the dog has already bred 4 litters.

Frequency of breeding ‒ dogs
4.	A person must not breed a litter from a dog more than once within an 18 month period.

Age for breeding ‒ cats
5.	Subject to this standard, a person may breed a litter from a cat only if the cat is between the ages of 12 months and 7 years.

Number of litters – cats
6.	A person must not breed a litter from a cat if the cat has already bred 8 litters.

Frequency of litters ‒ cats
7.	A person must not breed a litter from a cat more than 3 times within a 2 year period.

Mating
8.	A person must not allow a male dog or cat to mate before it is physically mature.

Caesarean births and failure to carry to term
9.	A person must not breed a litter from a female dog or cat that has previously: 
(a)	given birth by caesarean section; or
(b)	suffered  a failure to carry a litter to term more than 42 days after mating.