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Sunday August 1, 2010

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Puppy farm - shut it down?

Posted by: 3AW and The Age | 25 February, 2010 - 3:36 PM

PLAYING NOW: Neil Mitchell speaks to Debra Tranter, Investigator for Animal Liberation Victoria, and Robert Debrinski, CEO of Moorabool Shire.

REPORT (Megan Levy): Animal activists are fighting to shut down an alleged puppy farm operating west of Melbourne after inspectors found the animals to be living in horrendous conditions.

Dog carcasses were left to rot on the ground, animals were found covered in their own faeces and enclosures were not large enough for some animals to lie down, according to an inspection of the property by Moorabool Shire Council.

The owner of the 20-hectare property at Beremboke, Leslie Paxton, had applied to the council for a retrospective planning permit to keep 30 dogs on the land.

However the council knocked back that request last week, saying the proposal did not meet the minimum standards of the council's animal keeping policy and was not in keeping with the land's zoning.

A council report revealed there were 59 dogs kept on the property late last year without approval, as well as additional livestock.

Three Animal Liberation Victoria members secretly visited the property at midnight on Monday to film the appalling conditions, campaign manager Debra Tranter said.

"The dogs are sitting in their own faeces. It was really, really bad," she said.

"There was one water bowl among about 40 dogs, and that water bowl had filthy water in it."

She said the farm should be shut down immediately, and called on the state government to pass legislation outlawing the factory farming of dogs.

Moorabool council compliance officers visited the property in September last year and took photographs of animal carcasses rotting on the ground, the council report tabled last week states.

"Many of the animals were living and covered in their own faeces," the report says.

"Photos show raw meat on the ground for animals to eat, and water containers tipped over.

"Photographic evidence does not reflect a good quality of life for the dogs."

The inspection also found significant amounts of faecal matter and mud present in pens; that kennels did not protect the animals from the rain; and between two and five large dogs were kept in one pen. The compliance officers found some animals had died unnecessarily.

The council concluded that the owners were running a puppy farm, advertising their services through the Melbourne Trading Post.

In his application for a planning permit, Mr Paxton claimed the dogs were family pets, and proceeded to name 30 dogs.

When contacted today, Mr Paxton declined to comment.

Moorabool Shire Council chief executive officer Robert Dobrzynski said Mr Paxton had 60 days to lodge an appeal against the council's decision with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

If an appeal was not lodged, the council would seek an enforcement order under the Planning and Environment Act to have the current use of the land cease, Mr Dobrzynski said.


Blog comments Your Say

  • Lumley you are so mistaken, this is not a case of a few horrible breeders. Puppy farming is rife in Victoria. There are many many cases of puppy farms equally as bad as this one, except they don't all get the media that this case has and therefore don't come to the general public's attention. You are mistaken that Animal Liberation is trying to mislead the public, where on earth have you seen them doing that, the public have a right to know that puppy farms exist and how they operate. Reputable registered breeders generally do not run large scale establishments like the puppy farms. Plus I doubt there is going to be a shortage of dogs any time soon, just take a look at the tens of thousands that are euthanised in Victorian pounds every year.

    Jo Saturday 27 February, 2010 - 9:12 PM

  • This is a horrible case of animal neglect, anyone can see that but organizations such as Animal Liberation are taking advantage of this case and using it to mislead the public into believing that every large breeder runs their kennels that same way which is simply not true. Dog breeders need to be regulated and they only way to do that is to only allow registered breeders who are registered as a business and have regular inspections by councils to breed dogs. Professional breeders who can design and develop a kennel with a good management plan should be supported. Australians love their dogs and like it or not there is a large demand for them here. Small backyarders and most do not have the facilities to properly look after more that 2 or 3 dogs. If the professional larger breeders are not supported there will be a shortage of puppies available making them much more expensive. This will only make it more viable for puppies being imported from Asian countries where there are no regulations at all for dog breeders. We shouldn't look at a few horrible breeders such as these ones who I believe are in fact Victorian Canine Association members and punish the breeders who run their kennel in a professional manner.

    Lumley Saturday 27 February, 2010 - 10:34 AM

  • l agree with judy, the RSPCA should do there job! l myself donate to the RSPCA along with lots of other people and WE expect the RSPCA to stop! these sorts of things from going on.

    Carol Friday 26 February, 2010 - 4:57 PM

  • Join my facebook page you cna post a comment to be sent to the Moorabool Shire and RSPCA

    'Close the Puppy Farm at Beremboke'

    Julie Friday 26 February, 2010 - 1:31 PM

  • I agree shame on the departments that allow these dogs to be kept in such inhuman conditions.
    The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 - SECT 9
    (f) is the owner or the person in charge of an animal which is confined or
    otherwise unable to provide for itself and fails to provide the animal
    with proper and sufficient food, drink or shelter; or

    This is legislation act on it no more excuses. If we are going to blame the Japanese for whaling then we need to clean up our back yard

    Julie Friday 26 February, 2010 - 12:36 PM

  • What will it take for the State Government to realise that puppy farming is inhumane and socially unacceptable? When is the ball handling going to stop between the DPI, RSPCA and Local Shires every time serious animal welfare issues are addressed to them? When are Government authorities willing to make a stand for all the animals used as breeding machines and introduce legislation, banning the sale of pets in stores and abolish kitten and puppy mills completely? How can a RSPCA spokesman say:"inspectors had found no breaches of the Prevention of Cruelty Act" when Animal Liberationists were willing to bring forth to the public that filthy, evil extremities of many puppy farms such as Beremboke do exist? Also, if according to the Moorabool Council report, investigators found dogs tethered without shelter, lacking in sufficient food and clean drinking water, deprived of human contact and raw meat left to rot, is this not considered also a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty Act? The community need to know that puppy farming must not be tolerated and NEVER purchase a pet over the Internet or from pet shops. Government Authorities please get the dogs out of this HELL HOLE!

    Julie-Anne Thursday 25 February, 2010 - 10:42 PM

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