WHILE most who go into the business of raising puppies for sale do so with the right intentions, it's unfathomable some of the conditions that result when the lure of big dollars come by.
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RSPCA chief executive officer Dr Liz Walker says some of the cases they have uncovered in central Victoria in recent years make it impossible to imagine certain people had the right intentions when they got involved.
They welcomed the state government's decision to fast-track legislation cracking down on puppy farms and giving new tools to help prevent proven dodgy operators from starting up.
It could also be welcome news to those in central Victoria - particularly some councils - home to a number of puppy farms facing prosecution.
The fact they keep on popping up in country areas means something had to be done.
Yet in February this year, pet store operators were already warning of the spiraling cost of dogs once certain new laws restricting pet store sales of dogs and kittens come into force.
Dogs could cost at least $5000, one warned, and provided a number of reasons.
Large scale breeders raised similar concerns, focusing on costs of setting up and claiming it could drive more underground.
But dogs should never be seen as just consumer goods, and the government knows it.
There aren't any votes to lose in saving puppies and kittens from cruelty.
