Breeders of dogs and cats must adhere to the South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals. The Standards set out minimum health and welfare requirements for breeding and selling companion animals. The Standards must also be adhered to by pet shops, shelters, and any other venue where companion animals are sold.

Breeding a dog or cat

Any person can apply to the Dog and Cat Management Board to be registered as a breeder [Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (SA) s 68]. Pursuant to s 69, a person may not sell a dog or cat that they have bred unless they are registered with the Dog and Cat Management Board, an approved representative body (as defined by regulation) or under the laws of another jurisdiction. (Breeding is defined under regulation 17 of the Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017 (SA).) The maximum penalty for breaching the requirement to be registered is a fine of up to $5,000 (expiation fee $315).

Registration as a breeder does not authorise breeding or selling a dog of a prescribed breed [ss 4, 69(2) and 70(6)].

A person must not sell a dog (except for a livestock dog) or a cat unless the animal has been microchipped and desexed [Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (SA) s 70(1), (2); Dog and Cat Management Regulations 2017 (SA) regs 10, 12, 18]. This does not apply to the sale of a dog or cat from one registered breeder to another, or to the sale of a dog or cat that will not be kept in South Australia [regs 18(4)(a) and 18(4)(c)].