OK. Before I launch in, I have to state and stress that the following is hearsay, but is extremely concerning if correct, and would signal to breeders to follow up the animals they sell and scrutinise the buyers of particularly undesexed dogs and bitches. I know people do, but this is a shocker.

My sister is not a Koolie owner, but knows a bit about Koolies because of my dogs.We were speaking last night. She has an acquaintance she does business with sometimes. She noticed last time she saw this person that the person had an undesexed Koolie bitch, about 4 years old. The bitch was a very pretty, short rough coat blue merle, with one blue eye. My sister asked about the dog which she hadn't seen before, and a tale unfolded.......

The person said they wanted to buy a puppy. They did not know what breed to get, but was told about a breeder who bred a few breeds and so the person made arrangements to go and have a look. The location was the mid north coast area of NSW which covers a big stretch between the Hunter and Northern Rivers area. That's all the person would say for reasons which become obvious.

When they got to the place they found it was nothing but a puppy mill. They were breeding mostly pit bulls, but some other random breeds as well. The breeding bitches were caged, in the puppy mill style.

The person saw an unusual bitch with interesting markings and a blue eye.....you guess what breed that was. Anyway, the breeder said that he/she had just purchased the bitch as a "pure bred" Koolie from a Koolie breeder. My sisters friend doesn't know where from, it may not be local, could even be interstate. They purchased the Koolie bitch as a breeder. THERE WAS NO MALE KOOLIE ON THE PROPERTY, just a few fluffys and numerous pit bulls. They refused my sisters friends offer to buy her.

My sisters friend unashamedly went back that night and nicked (rescued) the Koolie girl, and now "owns" her in that she is registered and micro chipped to her. The friend said they are 100 percent certain the breeder was going to be crossing the Koolie girl, and anyway the place was a S*** hole, and not fit for animals.

OK OK OK I make no comment on the ethics or legalities of this act, and my sisters friend would have to face the consequences if ever caught. I would never encourage an act like this if it was unproven and I would likely involve the RSPCA.....and then nick her, but that's me.

What I am really concerned about is how that bitch got there in the middle of a bunch of pit bulls in a scungy puppy mill in the first place (if this is a true story.........).

There was a post here a way back about a suspicion that Koolies are being crossed with pig dogs to hunt around the Queenbeyan area. Can you imagine a feisty Koolie crossed with a pit bull. Oh my God.

I have thought long and hard about posting this here, and thankfully I can't point the finger at any person as the location given to me was too vague (but was NSW)but I believe as popularity and enquiries grow, more vigilence is needed. After all, someone sold that bitch to some random person who particularly wanted a breeding female. A red light should have flashed if no one knew the buyer or their business. I suppose it's alright for me to say, I'm not a breeder. Breeders can't control every aspect of their sales. I guess this is just a tip off, which even if not true still shows that this potential for abuse of the breed could be alive and well today, or in the future.

I understand and share your concerns Shaunagh, I wish your sisters friend could be persuaded to reveal the location.

Even being a diligent breeder, who breeds from a list, who micro-chips and remains the second contact for life, who takes every effort to get to know their new owners and supports and encourages them to take up membership, even going to the point of requesting a call if the new owners ever change their minds and wish to rehome their Koolie.
When we receive a request for a breeding bitch or breeding pair, we make every effort to become involved in the decision making, in the past we have tried breeders contracts, offering the use of our male when the time was right, assisting in locating owners for proposed litters, basically making ourselves as needed as possible.
But our Koolie’s are still at risk, maybe not from falling into the pound but from exploitation and over breeding, unless we move in with them, I'm at a loss how to protect our precious Koolie’s.
If people don't wish to report these outfits and make every effort to close them down things will never improve.

The Bill to remove pets from pets shops and making it illegal for any breeders other than those who are registered to advertise in any media, paper, internet, magazine etc is not going to change the statis it will only push it further underground, there are a number of registered breeders who should be stricken from the list, as their ethic are nonexistent as well as their animal care, it is all for the money, nothing more.

Unless all people realise they have an obligation of protect every time they see a backyard breeder or a puppy mill or ill treatment of any sort to any animal.
Your sisters friend should have known to go straight to the authorities and report the man, no hesitation, nicking the Koolie saved the Koolie, but what of the others.

This is a very sensitive issue and one not easily resolved, but no or little efforts by anyone, is the same as supporting the puppy mills and giving a green light to the continued abuse of what are meant to be our beloved animals.

I have to agree that TJ makes 2 excellent points:-

1)If people don't wish to report these outfits and make every effort to close them down things will never improve.

2)Your sisters friend should have known to go straight to the authorities and report the man, no hesitation, nicking the Koolie saved the Koolie, but what of the others.

If this is NSW it is illegal to breed,give away,sell or rehome any Pit bull for starters,while alot of people disagree with BSL,you do not break the law for your breed it will not change anything and gives responsible owners bad names.

I personally believe turning a blind eye is just as bad as the people doing this to the dogs.I would be encouraging your sister to report this even if it is untrue,at least you will be doing something and hopefully stop this particular puppy farmer and no one needs to know unless you tell them.

I would suggest you do not say you 'stole' the koolie,just say you saw the place.

Unfortunately it happens in all breeds and with cross breeds their isn't any protection in place, mind you that hasn't stopped pedigree breeders either using unscrupulous practices. Jody my old labrador was rescued from such a place, we got her out by pleading with the owners then reporting them to the RSPCA, they closed her down. But guess what she is right back into it with another breed, but she is being a lot more careful about it now.

I would encourage you to ask your friend to report the place to the RSPCA or even do it yourself if you can find the where abouts of the place. They have probably replaced the koolie that they have acquired with another koolie, so basically they have not resolved the issue.

Breeders questioning their potential owners and asking what they intend is good practice, but it also works the other way. Ceejay is my first proper breed of dog and I did a hell of a lot of research and questioning before I decided on TJ.

But those puppy mills are horrendous, and has become a lot worse with the introduction of designer breeds due to the money they can demand for them and now with pigging breeds too, cross anything with a bull arab and hey presto instant pigging dog. While people are buying them they will keep producing and selling them. And alas people will still buy them even if they have heard about the practice as their dog would not have come from a place like that. That is my mum's argument with her moodle. It is frustrating, and I will keep reporting places that I believe is not up to scratch, I have done it a few times. But until RSPCA has more bite (bad pun)I think it will still continue.

Even if we knew who the breeder was, there is every chance they were strung some sort of line about what the dog was wanted for. People tend to tell fibs to get what they want. Not having a male doesn't make it less likely as they could take it to a stud dog somewhere else. That said we have heard of breeders outside the club who are supplying markets and pet shops or anyone who is prepared to pay what they want. There are of course a lot of breeders who we have no influence over. But as a group of over 180 members our unspoken agreement is to keep the price of our dogs deliberately low, generally they are in the $250 to $300 range so that those who try to breed koolies or it's crosses just to spin a dollar find it very difficult to compete when we include vet check, vaccination, micro chipping and registration. I believe it has had a big effect, but we will never stop them all.
My concern is the condition of the dogs or the state they were kept in, because although we might not like someone keeping large numbers it is possible to keep them heathly and clean and happy. Were they undernourished and in dirty conditions? Then they should have the whistle blown on them long and loud no excuses.
If the "aquiring" owner is willing I would like to have DNA taken from the bitch on the chance that we will be able to get an idea of who the breeder is, not for public recognition but so we can be aware in future and not assume it is the wrong breeder.

I totally agree with all the above, but the story was told to me in hindsight. It had already happened and unfortunately the present owner was just overwhelmed seeing this little bitch so out of place with the other dogs there that she/he acted on impulse and instinct, and possibly ignorance, he/she just knew it couldn't be right. Of course now he/she is scared because he/she could be charged with theft, which is flat out what she did. So I'm a bit stuck.

I believe that the location was "on the road to Nelsons Bay" from Newcastle. So that is the coast road I suppose. I don't know what I'd say to the RSPCA, as this covers a long stretch of road. Maybe he/she would be willing to give DNA. I can only ask. Maybe I could call her......

I personally support Clover Moores Bill in NSW to stop Pet Shop selling of Pups. It may send some operators underground but at least it stops the impulse buying that sees so many animals in pounds, particularly in February and March when all the unwanted Xmas puppys end up abandoned. People would have to go out of their way to see a prospective puppy under the new proposal, and some may even see the conditions the animals live in, particularly the brood bitches, and be repelled and conact a registered ethical breeder instead.

Anyway, Koolie breeders seem to be the least of the sinners, and the club seems to be doing everything right. But Koolie people need to be vigilant and aware that our unusual dogs are attractive to shonky operators.







Oh Sheree, I didn't steal the dog, as tempted as I may have been had I seen the situation as described to me. I do not condone what the person did, I just understand it.

Sorry I worded that wrong,I know you did not take the dog , what I meant was report this to the RSPCA but do not say anything reguarding the koolie that was 'saved' just what was seen and do it anonamously.

I'm going to gather as much info as I can and do just that. Even if they can't pin point the place, they could at least be on the lookout.

The Koolie club has sadly always known of the existence and the danger to our breed presented by unscrupulous breeders and the breeds growing popularity.

It is our hope that all our members will keep an ever vigilant and protective eye cast over those Koolie’s in their care.
And we continue to send out our strong community message of protection, proper ethical promotion and sound reliable and factual information.

I hate puppy farmers, I don't mean the breeders who look after their dogs well, & would happily chuck them all in tiny cages & let them live in their own s..t forever, sorry but I get very angry hearing about these things. I'm glad the dog has a good home now & can't put them down for the way it was done because I did the same thing once. It wasn't a puppy farm just one dog from the back of a shop with the help of some one who did love it but couldn't take it, still wrong I know. I hope the RSPCA gets the details of this place, shut's it down & throws the book & other heavy objects at them. Again sorry but I look at my dogs & would hate for them to be treated that badly, makes me want to cry.