Those interested in animal welfare have their chance to attend the hearing at 10.30am at Armidale Dumaresq Council.

Armidale will host the first of three public hearings for the Joint Select Committee on Companion Animal Breeding Practices in NSW that will continue in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday.

At the Armidale hearing the committee will hear evidence from the local council, local breeders and facility owners Jude Costello and Pat Carmody and Geoff Johnson, animal welfare advocate Judy Scrivener and Armidale citizen Phil Evans.

“The committee is likely to also take evidence from another local breeder in camera and will be conducting an inspection of a local breeding facility,” member for Northern Tablelands and committee chairman Adam Marshall said.

“The committee received more than 330 written submissions and 2200 items of correspondence to our inquiry, which is examining proposals for a breeders’ licensing system, the need for limits on the number of breeding animals per establishment and the regulation of pet sales. 

“For some time the Northern Tablelands community has been aware of the issues surrounding puppy factories and the  hearing on Tuesday will be an important opportunity to hear from community members .”

A range of industry stakeholders, breeding groups and animal welfare advocates to give evidence in Sydney along with regulators including the RSPCA, the Animal Welfare League and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

“The committee and I look forward to recommending how to deliver better outcomes for the public, breeders and retailers, and for the welfare of our companion animals,” Mr Marshall said.