27/09/2026
Why does Sydney Dingo Rescue oppose breeding dingoes in captivity?
Our newest rescue is a perfect example. Little Marlo was deliberately bred by a backyard breeder and sold as a "pet". Unfortunately people can and do breed dingoes for money and it's legal in many Australian states (crazy right?)
Just weeks after buying him and taking him home Marlo's family’s circumstances changed and they realised could no longer care for him, they did the responsible thing and reached out for help. But when they contacted the person who bred and sold Marlo? The breeder stopped responding and wasn’t interested in taking responsibility for the dingo they had brought into the world.
Luckily, his family eventually contacted Sydney Dingo Rescue and we were able to squeeze him in. There were frank with us, if we weren't able to take him, their next option was euthanasia. [Please remember blaming his former family isn't helpful here, this is part of a much larger problem and they were doing their best in difficult circumstances].
We were able to help Marlo. But every time we take in a dingo who has been deliberately bred and sold, that is space, money and resources we can no longer use to help another dingo in desperate need. In particular it takes resources away from wild dingoes.
This year alone, SDR has already had to turn away more than 60 dingoes because we don't have the space, resources or suitable homes and carers. Right now we have 99 dingoes in care
We receive calls about orphaned and injured wild dingoes almost every day at this time of year.
There are already far more dingoes needing homes than there are suitable homes available.
And unlike many other species of wildlife, dingoes in care cannot simply be rehabilitated and released. Releasing dingoes into the wild is currently illegal throughout Australia. Captive-bred and human-raised dingoes are also not animals you can simply take into the bush and let go. They would not survive.
That means every dingo deliberately bred in captivity needs somewhere to live for the rest of their life (15-20 years).
So when dingo breeders produce more puppies every year, they aren't creating animals who will contribute to wild populations or "conservation". They are instead creating more captive dingoes competing for an already desperately limited number of homes, carers and resources. They are, for all intents and purposes, taking those homes away from rescued wild dingoes, who are much harder to place.
Captive breeding of dingoes is not conservation.
Conservation means protecting wild dingoes, protecting habitat, changing legislation and management practices, and ensuring wild populations can survive on country, where they belong.
All of the dingoes at our Rescue Centre are desexed, and SDR will never breed dingoes.
As long as rescues are overflowing, and captive dingoes cannot be released, we cannot ethically support breeding more dingoes.
Breeding ≠ conservation.
Desexing does save lives.
If you need help desexing your dingo, or are interested in providing a home to a rescue dingo, contact us at:
[email protected]
