THE developer behind a new dog breeding facility to be built south of Bathurst hopes to start work within five months after being given the green light by Bathurst Regional Council this week.
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Pet Industry Association board member John Grima will build the facility about 20 kilometres south of Bathurst to supply dogs for sale in his Sydney pet store, Kellyville Pets.
When fully operational, the facility will house up to 60 dogs – eight males and 52 females.
Mr Grima said the facility would mostly breed cavoodles – a cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle – though there may also be moodles (Maltese terrier and poodle).
Ongoing genetic testing will be a focus for the operation as Mr Grima seeks to refine the breed to grow “true to form” – that is, produce a consistent breed of cavoodle by closely managing bloodlines and genetic diversity.
Mr Grima said animal welfare would be a priority and all females would need clearance from a veterinarian before each breeding cycle.
Females would have a maximum of five litters before being desexed and rehomed through the pet store.
“Not every family wants a puppy because they might not want to go through that puppy training stage,” he said.
“There will be an average of six to 10 mums in the whelping house at one time and there are 20 pens in there so they can be moved around as the pens are cleaned as a way of ensuring hygiene control.
“Each pen will have its own outside run for the mum to get away from the puppies if she wants. When the puppies are young the mum will want to be with them but after a while she will want to get away for a break.”
The breeding facility will have televisions playing throughout the day and music from classical to hard rock coming through speakers to help train puppies for the noise of life in a family home.
An on-site manager will live on the property at Fosters Valley and three staff will be rostered on to work each day to care for the animals.
Mr Grima said he had already received job applications to work there.
“One of the reasons we chose this site was to be close to a good employment centre,” he said.
“We looked at sites around Lithgow, Mudgee and Orange before deciding on this one.”
Mr Grima said he was not surprised by the vehement case mounted against his facility by animal welfare advocates and members of the Animal Justice Party but said he had more in common with them than they would believe.
“I agree with probably 80 per cent of what they say but I think they don’t have trust in our operation because they think we’re just another terrible puppy farm like those they have seen on television,” he said.
“They have seen some terrible things but we’re not like that, we have been transparent from day one.
“Before we lodged our plans we showed the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League and Australian Veterinary Association what we were trying to achieve and we held a pre-lodgment meeting with council’s own ranger to get input.
“I would have to be pretty stupid to stand up in front of everyone and say ‘I’m going to do this’ and then not do it.”
The breeding facility will open in stages as more dogs are brought into the program.
Currently there are five cavoodles on-site (one male and four females) and they will be the first of the breeders.
Mr Grima said cavoodles were by far the most popular breed he sells at Kellyville Pets as they were a small dog that suited young families and urban residences.
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