By GABRIELLE COLE

The experience of being in a Victorian puppy farm caused mental and physical damage to a young dog used for breeding, her new owner says. 

Natalia D’Souza bought Pippa, a four-year-old bichon frise, from a rescue shelter in Victoria a few weeks ago and discovered Pippa had been used for excessive breeding.

Pippa’s “out of shape” body was just one indicator of the life she had previously lived.

“She had a really severe ear infection, she’s very slow, she’s very timid, very scared of new people and she’s really, really scared of men,” Ms D’Souza said.

“It makes me really upset. If you look at her she’s such a sweet dog and it just hurts me that anyone could be so cruel to an animal.”

Compared with other dogs, dogs from puppy farms have significantly higher rates of fear and physical health problems, according to a 2012 study by the Center for Sheltered Dogs.

It showed that they develop “extreme and persistent fears and phobias” and have much lower rates of trainability and energy.

RSPCA Victoria animal welfare policy manager Mhairi Roberts said the term "puppy farm" was “used for an establishment that has generally large numbers of animals, that are kept in conditions that aren’t sufficient to meet their needs”.

“We rely really heavily on the community to help us to find these puppy farms,” she said.

“If the general public was educated and knew to look for a responsible breeder then essentially these establishments will cease to exist.”

For additional information on puppy farms, how to help stop them, and guidance on where to buy your puppy from,  visit rspca.org.au.