Regular readers of my work will know that I have strong feelings about the disgraceful puppy farm industry and support efforts to see it shut down so that reputable breeders are given a chance and so that families can be safe in the knowledge that they are not supporting an inhumane industry when they purchase a pet.

On the 19^th January Fairfax reported on an investigation into a puppy farm in Northern NSW. The investigation has involved several staff from the RSPCA, at the time of the report few animals had been seized and no charges had been laid against the operators.

This puppy farm involved was only brought to the attention of authorities because of the relentless and risky work of the organisation Oscars Law.

Oscars Law had provided evidence of horrendous and appalling conditions on the site as well as evidence of dead animals left to rot which eventually forced authorities to act.

However it has been alleged that this is not the only the only puppy farm in the area and this leaves one wondering why it takes so long to have something done.

Wixxyleaks has obtained a leaked veterinarian report from one of the RSPCA’s own vets regarding one of the the sites, a copy is linked below with only the address of the property and the owner’s name removed. Be warned the report makes for very disturbing reading.

Veterinary Report to RSPCA

The report details an investigation performed along with four RSPCA inspectors and inspections of approximately 155 animals over two days.

Early on in her report Dr Ann-Margret Wither states;

“I consider that the ratio of attendants to animals on this property was profoundly inadequate to provide reasonable care for this number of animals.”

She goes on further to talk of the appalling health of many of the animals, some with open wounds, others with massive tumours and seven that were in such poor health they needed to be put down.

However what I find the most disturbing about the report is the date, 7^th August 2013, but it gets worse, the report was on an inspection that was done on the 29th and 30th August 2012, well over a year ago..

What is disturbing about these dates is where do you think the majority of those animals are now as you read this? Approximately 40 dogs have been seized but the vast majority of these long-suffering dogs are still on the property. As mentioned earlier the RSPCA and Police have failed to seize a fraction of the animals as yet, despite some media attention.

Needless to say this has been the cause of much frustration.

I contacted the CEO of RSPCA NSW Steven Coleman regarding the delay however as of the date of publication have yet to receive a response.

What I find disturbing is that it would appear the heavy lifting in the fight against puppy farms is being done by groups such as Oscars Law. In this case as in countless others Oscars Law have been the ones that gather the bulk of the evidence and end up having to lobby the RSPCA to have any action taken.

It is also important to note that Oscars Law are an organisation that operate on a shoestring budget and rely on the support of the public to operate receiving no government subsidies.

In stark contrast the NSW RSPCA according to their financial statements were in receipt of a shade over $5.25 Million in government subsidies over the last two financial years and a shade over $31.5 Million in donations and legacies over the same period.

RSPCA NSW Financial Statements – 30 June 2014

Yet despite this it has been left up to Oscars Law to do the hard yards once again, with founder Deborah Tranter still trying to have authorities act on this puppy farm and others in the region.

Ms Tranter has had to extend her efforts to lobbying politicians in a bid to have something done, in a letter to NSW RSPCA Steven Collins regarding one of the puppy farms recently she copied several MP’s, included were the local member, Adam Marshall, The Minister Katrina Hodgkinson, Shadow Minister Steve Whan and The Greens.

Local Member, the Nationals Adam Marshall replied voicing his concerns and saying he was also going to take it up with the Minister. To date it is understood that there has been no response from Liberal Minister Katrina Hodgkinson.

The only other response came from Shadow Minister For Primary Industries Steve Whan of the Labor Party.

The Labor Party has adopted a strong policy on puppy farms in Victoria, leading the way in political attempts to shut down this barbaric industry, the hope is that NSW Labor may do the same and that other parties may get behind Labor’s initiative and follow suit.

I spoke with Shadow Minister Steve Whan who assured me that this is a subject he was passionate about and was keen to see addressed. When I asked him about the information he had received from Oscars Law’s Deborah Tranter he told me;

“I find it extremely offensive that animals should be kept in such appalling conditions, as do my fellow members. It is clear that the Coalitions reliance on industry regulation in this area has failed. Labor believes that there must be a better way and that is what we are working towards.”

At least one political party is seeking to address this issue. In the meantime the animals in the puppy farms of the Northern Tablelands face a seemingly long wait to be rescued.

I should point out that the RSPCA in both Victoria and South Australia have been extremely fast to respond to evidence of puppy farms where animal seizures have been swift and charges have been laid against offenders quickly.

The NSW RSPCA has been the focus of anger recently by some over their decision to drop 53 charges of aggravated animal cruelty against a NSW piggery that closed down after a disturbing video showing acts of cruelty and a total lack of care was released.

The RSPCA in NSW does some fantastic work, but in respect to action against puppy farms there is clearly something wrong if known incidents of animal cruelty are all but ignored for months while animals are left to suffer.

Perhaps funds should be redirected, or maybe somebody needs to hold the RSPCA in NSW to account.

Something is clearly broken.

 

 

 

 

 

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