What do the terms inbreeding and linebreeding mean? What is inbreeding? Inbreeding is the mating of related individuals that have one or more relatives in common. Linebreeding is...
I think my guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? The best thing is to take your guinea pig to your vet for a pregnancy diagnosis. They can diagnose a...
Is desexing mandatory for cats and dogs? In Australia, animal management legislation is a state or territory responsibility rather than a federal or national one. Unfortunately, not...
How can owners of dogs with exaggerated physical features help their pets? Owners of pet dogs with exaggerated physical features need to be fully aware of the specific health and welfare problems...
What can breeders do to avoid exaggerated physical features that compromise dog welfare? Every breeder has an important responsibility to ensure their dogs are able to live a healthy, happy and long life....
How do I find a good dog or cat breeder? If you’re looking for a new dog or cat, check your local RSPCA or other reputable animal welfare or rescue...
How do I avoid supporting puppy farms? To avoid supporting puppy farms (also known as puppy mills) you should only ever buy a puppy from a reliable...
What is a puppy farm? A puppy farm (also known as a puppy factory or puppy mill) is defined as ‘an intensive dog breeding facility that...
What animal welfare problems are associated with dog breeding? There are a number of significant animal welfare problems associated with breeding of certain dog breeds and pedigree dog breeding....
How do I care for newborn kittens and their mother? There are many things that you need to consider when caring for kittens and a lactating mother. The following information...
What are the health problems with Scottish Fold cats? The Scottish Fold breed of cat is a very popular pet in the USA, due to its affectionate and gentle...
Are there laws that require companion animal breeders to meet certain standards of care? Laws relating to the welfare of animals vary in different states. In some states, companion animal breeders have to be...
What is a backyard breeder? Backyard breeding is a term used to describe irresponsible breeding of animals. Often this is due to ignorance or neglect...
What is a ‘registered breeder’? The term ‘registered breeder’ generally means one of the following: 1. Registration with a breed club or association Dog and...
How are beef cattle reared? Beef cattle are reared outdoors in all Australian states and territories. Southern areas with good pasture have herds with a...
Why are cattle spayed? Cattle spaying is done to avoid unwanted pregnancy of animals, often in extensive pastoral areas where females cannot be segregated...
What are the animal welfare issues with genetic modification of farm animals? Genetic modification (GM) of farm animals started in the early 1980s. Most research on GM farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs,...
Should I breed from my horse? The first question you should seriously ask yourself is why do you want to breed a foal? Horse breeding should...
What is a mating stall for pigs and is it different to a sow stall? A mating stall is a crate used to hold a female pig for artificial insemination. A mating stall allows the...
What happens to breeding and dairy cattle exported overseas? Each year, Australia exports tens of thousands of dairy cattle and breeding animals to countries all over the world to...