We want to hear your feedback on standards and guidelines, fertile female limits and draft regulations for dog and cat breeding.

What's being decided?

We’re seeking your thoughts on key breeding limits, draft regulations and standards and guidelines to support the implementation of South Australia’s new breeder licensing scheme.

Together, these items support the implementation of the breeder licensing scheme and establish minimum standards for the management of animals within breeding programs.

You can find full details of what is being proposed in the explanatory guide.

Background

The South Australian Government made a commitment to ban puppy factories and improve confidence in the state’s breeding sector.

To deliver this, the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Act 2025 was passed in June 2025.

The Amendment Act updates the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 – which governs how dogs and cats are managed in South Australia – and introduces important changes, including:

• Breeder licensing – Replacing breeder registration with a licensing system.
• Stronger penalties – Increased penalties for dog attacks as a stronger deterrent for irresponsible owners.
• Better compliance powers – Additional support for councils undertaking compliance activities through improved enforcement powers.
• Administrative improvements – A small number of changes to make the Act easier to administer.

The first suite of changes brought under the Amendment Act – including increased penalties, additional feral cat controls for regional property owners and changes to retired greyhound muzzle rules – came into effect on 17 November 2025.

We are now consulting on key fertile female limits, draft regulations and proposed standards and guidelines, an important step in the implementation of the overall breeder licensing scheme.

When introduced, South Australia’s breeder licensing scheme will see dog and cat breeders undergo a rigorous assessment process when applying for a licence, along with providing greater information on their knowledge, facilities and animals.

Get involved

Find out more:

• Review the draft regulations and proposed standards and guidelines
• Read the explanatory guide
• Take a look at our FAQs

Have your say:

• Complete our survey
• Email a submission to DEW.DogAndCatReform@sa.gov.au including your full name, email and contact details.
• Post a written submission to:
  • Dog and Cat Management
    Department for Environment and Water
    GPO BOX 1047
    Adelaide SA 5001

Please note: your feedback may be made publicly available, in part or in entirety, unless you indicate on your submission that you wish for it to remain confidential. If published, submissions would not include personal names or contact details but would include group/organisation name (if applicable). Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise the fertile female limits, regulations and standards and guidelines. A consultation report will be made available on this page.

South Australia's breeder licensing scheme is expected to be introduced in 2027 once supporting systems and processes have been developed.