NSW Pet Purchasing Education Campaign – Pet scams

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that in 2021, pet scams increased by 48% from the previous year, indicating a trend of unscrupulous sellers targeting puppy and kitten purchasers.

To improve breeder knowledge of regulatory requirements and help consumers make more informed decisions, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has launched a campaign on social media and provided a suite of resources on its webpage ‘Buying or adopting a cat or dog’.

The campaign aims to improve the welfare of animals being bred by raising awareness of responsible breeding practices, legislative requirements, the requirements when transferring ownership of companion animals, and consumer knowledge.