The owner of an illegal puppy farm in Little River will be prosecuted after authorities seized more than a dozen dogs from “appalling” conditions.
Police and Wyndham Council raided one of the state’s longest-running puppy farms on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off from animal rights activists.
It is believed seven puppies and nine dogs, including two that are pregnant, were removed from the semi-rural property. The dogs were taken for veterinary checks.
The raid followed a complaint on Tuesday morning from Oscar’s Law founder Debra Tranter, who said dogs were still being bred in horrific conditions at the property despite a council investigation into the puppy farm earlier this year.
Ms Tranter alleged the owner, Anthony Sammut, temporarily moved dozens of dogs to other sites during the investigation, but subsequently brought them back to the property after the council ordered him to stop running the business.
“Everything has just got worse, its deteriorating. There were piles of faeces everywhere. Water containers still have not been cleaned,” Ms Tranter said.
Photos obtained by The Age earlier this year showed dogs living in cages inside a corrugated iron compound with cement floors that were covered in excrement. The shocking images also showed bowls overflowing with mouldy food, green drinking water and rotting breeding boxes.
Wyndham Council and the RSPCA have attended the puppy farm twice in the past year after reports that up to 50 dogs were living in squalid conditions, denied adequate shelter and not given veterinary care.
In June the council said it was investigating the facility for operating without permits and for breaching breeding guidelines, which set minimum standards for accommodation, health and nutrition.
During the investigation Mr Sammut surrendered six dogs to the council. Veterinary tests later showed four of the dogs suffered from ailments including cancer, hip dysplasia, splayed feet and ear damage that suggested evidence of “trimming”.
Wyndham Council’s chief executive, Kerry Thompson, on Tuesday said the council had not issued a permit for a domestic animal business to be run from the site.
“Acting on information received earlier today, council officers together with Victorian Police attended a property that had previously been issued with notices not to operate as a domestic animal business,” Ms Thompson said.
“There were multiple dogs and puppies at the property. These animals were seized by council and the property owner will be prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court.”
This story first appeared in The Age
