Those in power seek to remain in power. To do so they need control over what people know, think and believe.
In April this year I along with four other activists again inspected the filthy ACA puppy factory farm to further expose the truth and help the dogs. It has taken me so long to write this piece, because I was stuck somewhere between shock and hopelessness. The trauma of that night will never leave me.
Like many activists working for animals I’ve been arrested numerous times and spent nights in police lock up. I’ve had guns pointed at me, I’ve been thrown to the ground and kicked in the back, I’ve waded through manure pits, I’ve been chased by security guards and angry factory farmers, I have been sexually assaulted by a factory farmer when I refused to leave dying animals on his property, I have dug under and climbed through electric fences and I’ve had animals die in my arms countless times.
I have been called a terrorist, a criminal, and an animal rights lunatic. But nothing I have endured comes close to the animals suffering on puppy factory farms.
And on this night I experienced some of their terror at the hands of their owners. It is unbelievable the length the owners of ACA puppy farm and their mates went to in an attempt to prevent us from getting the truth out to you.
As we entered ACA puppy farm just after midnight we stared into the faces of the hundreds of “breeding machines”. To look into the eyes of a confined dog and into the next and the next and the next and the next makes you feel like you’re on the edge of your sanity. Their eyes scream a silent agony of despair, their spirits broken. I can’t pick up 400 dogs put them in my car and leave, all I can do is film they’re suffering and get the footage out there because the truth cannot be changed until it can be seen.
We spent two hours on the property filming the dogs and their living conditions.
Their water bowls were full of black slime and appeared not to have been cleaned for some months. It was a freezing 4 degrees and none of the dogs had any bedding in their shelters. The shelters do not provide adequate coverage from the wind and rain. We saw about 400 dogs and about 200 puppies that night. There are three “birthing sheds” at ACA which hold about 50 dogs each. A number of dogs were in the process of giving birth alone on a concrete floor in these enclosed sheds. We filmed the pups rolling around in all the blood on the sheet of cardboard that had been placed there and the poor mother dog staring up at us with haunting, pleading eyes. How many times has this mother dog been forced to give birth in order to make her owners rich?
At about 2am I once again braced myself, as I had to turn my back on the dogs and walk away. I tell them, “I’m sorry” and, “I’ll be back”. The precious video evidence in my hand, their only hope of freedom.
We had driven 20 minutes away from the puppy farm when headlights confronted us. As seconds ticked by it became obvious the car was on the wrong side of the road and was driving straight for us. On a small dirt road in the middle of no where we had no choice but to pull over as there was no way around the car that was determined to make us stop.
What happened next was violent, confrontational and completely unprovoked by us. We phoned the police twice and were prevented from leaving by the owners of ACA puppy farm for over an hour in frightening circumstances. When the police arrived I was the only member of our team arrested and I was put in a police van and spent the night in lock up. So I spent the night getting a feel of what the dogs endure on puppy farms day in day out. It simply made me more determined to return as soon as I got the chance.
I am legally prevented from detailing exactly what took place on that dirt road as it is before the courts and I will be pleading not guilty. When I am found not guilty, and the evidence will vindicate me, I will write about what the owners of ACA and their mates did to us in an attempt to prevent you from seeing the truth.
The owners of ACA puppy farm are angry that you are all writing letters to the Council. They told me so that night.
They are getting desperate, as evidenced by what occurred on that dirt road at 2am. They are prepared to go to any lengths to stop my team and I from getting the evidence out to you. They are even making claims in writing that the RSPCA purchase puppies from them. Last time I checked the RSPCA was not in the business of buying puppies. Evidence of their defamatory comments has been forwarded to the RSPCA.
Its going to be a long cold winter for the dogs on ACA. We will not give up on them.
Your letters are having an effect do not stop, do not take Council’s excuse’s. Council have failed in their duty of care towards these animals by not enforcing the Code for 14 years.
Demand closure of ACA puppy farm now.
The Mayor’s e-mail address is darren.mccubbin@wellington.vic.gov.au Please also CC your e-mail to the Shire Field Services Co-ordinator: gary.jago@wellington.vic.gov.au
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