An RSPCA special investigations unit has been given $5 million from the state government to help it uncover and prosecute illegal puppy breeders.
The grant is aimed at phasing out illegal breeding businesses and improving animal welfare.
It comes less than a week after Wyndham council prosecuted the owner of an unregistered puppy farm in Little River.
Anthony Sammut, 73, of Sunshine West, was fined $5000 by Werribee magistrates court last Monday and banned from operating a domestic animal business for five years after pleading guilty to running an unregistered domestic animal business.
Sammut is only the second puppy farmer in Victoria to have been successfully prosecuted.
The special RSPCA unit will focus on identifying and closing illegal puppy farms, prosecuting rogue operators and rehabilitating and rehoming seized animals.
RSPCA Victoria chief executive Dr Liz Walker said she is pleased the government is taking steps to help close puppy factories.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the government is also strengthening the code of practice to require mandatory pre-mating vet checks and to limit breeding dogs to five litters.
It also wants to restrict the number of breeding dogs in a business to 10 by 2020.
