22 Feburary 2018
AUSTRALIA'S FIRST WORLD-CLASS DOG BREEDING FACILITY APPROVED FOR BATHURST
Kellyville Pets has welcomed a decision by Bathurst Council to approve the development of a new state-of-the-art dog breeding establishment last night, and vowed to continue to fight for greater transparency and regulation of animal welfare.
John Grima, owner of Sydney's pet store Kellyville Pets, director of the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) and the proponent of the breeding establishment Rockley Valley Park, said he is looking forward to Rockley Valley Park being part of the Bathurst community and to raising the standards of dog breeding in NSW.
Mr Grima said he intends to develop the facility slowly over the next 12 months or so to ensure high standards can be maintained for dog welfare. Expressions of interest have already been received from local people wanting to work at Rockley Valley Park.
"The demand for happy and healthy puppies continues to grow, and we believe the best way to help more people experience the joys of having a pet is a combination of rehoming and breeding," Mr Grima said.
"Last night's approval means that is what we will continue to do, while raising the standard of animal welfare in breeding and helping to force the rogue operators breeding and selling puppies with no regulation out of the industry.
"We are going to continue to run welfare rescue events, as well as educate other breeders about their responsibilities. We have rehomed more than 350 cats and dogs and expect to continue to grow this over the coming years."
Mr Grima said he had already approach animal activists to work together to tackle puppy farms, and will continue to push for reforms and greater enforcement of the NSW Government legislation that governs animal welfare.
Rokcley Valley Park will feature large grassy yards, under slab heating, huge socialsation areas, grooming room, an air-conditioned whelping house and all day staff doing nothing but training, grooming, socializing, the dogs. Customers will have the opportunity to visit the breeding facility and the RSPCA will randomly inspect operations to ensure it maintains the highest of animal welfare standards.
The initiative builds on Kellyville Pets' existing animal welfare approach which includes active support for the rehoming of shelter animals and, where shelter animals are not suitable, only sourcing puppies from breeders who agree to random inspections by the RSPCA and AWL and annual vet audits. ---
