Over the years, so many people have inquired about “the beagle”. This one photo has been used as a symbol around the world to raise awareness about the horrors of puppy factories. “The beagle” has helped engage and influence people into taking action. So who is “the beagle”?
She lived her life on a puppy factory in Ballarat, owned by a veterinarian, Dr Ron Wells. The staff called her “Nobby” and they talk about how she craved affection. “She would lie up against the fence just to get a pat, she was good at getting out of her pen when you opened the gate”. Nobby’s mother was a breeding machine so Nobby was born into the factory and never knew life as a normal dog, all she knew was confinement and misery.  Nobby’s brothers and sisters were loaded up and taken to the pet shop, but Nobby was put aside as she was the chosen one to replace her mum. When Nobby’s mother could not produce enough puppies any longer, she was killed and then Nobby replaced her and started her job as a breeding machine.
Nobby was the first dog at the factory (not the last) to have a litter of puppies with a terrible disease. This disease killed some of her puppies by eating away their skin and in some cases entire limbs.

This cruel disease didn’t stop the factory farmer from breeding her though, as some of the pups survived and therefore Nobby was making money for the farmer. After her puppies were taken from her (they were not gently weaned), Nobby would have her vagina crudely flushed out with iodine and then she was packed onto a trailer with other dogs and they would be driven to another property. This was the place where the farmer kept all the breeding males and is still operating today. Once Nobby and the others were pregnant again, they were put back on the trailer and driven 3 hours back to Ballarat to give birth to their next litter and this regimented process went on for years and years. Staff recall that “Nobby was well known as the howler, as every time her pups were taken from her she would howl for days”
Nobby was never wormed or vaccinated; she was only ever fed cheap dry food, she was never exercised. Her life was miserable and staff remember “she never stopped craving attention, and she was so smart and loving even though she had been locked up her whole life”

Many of Nobby’s puppies died, they were left untreated, Ron simply didn’t care. All of this became too much for one staff member so she secretly took one of the sick puppies home to try and save its life.  The pup was named Trilogy as she was born on 3/3/03. Trilogy lost one of her back legs to this mysterious disease however today she has adapted and is one spoilt and very much loved family pet and only survived because one person cared.

Nobby was her name. The pet industry has dismissed Nobby as “the photo is half a decade old” and “the farmer was prosecuted”. No he wasn’t, Dr Ron Wells walked away unscathed after years of inflicting cruelty onto the dogs that made him a fortune. The legislation didn’t shut him down, the authorities didn’t shut him down, you, the public did. So the pet industry can dismiss her, but to us, Nobby was her name, and she mattered.

I want Oscars Law

If any of you have ever held in your arms a factory farmed dog who has lived her whole life confined and pregnant, you will know that to look into those dogs eyes you will see that there is nothing there, she died long ago and she is spiritless. She wasn’t someone’s pet; she was one cog in a well oiled machine, a production line pumping out puppies, she will be tossed aside when she breaks down and replaced. The factory must keep operating, dollars are at stake.  Her eyes may haunt you for the rest of your life, and you may grieve for the terrible suffering her life was.

It doesn’t matter to me how clean or well-lit or well-ventilated a high volume puppy factory is, or how many staff work there, it will never be acceptable to me. It can never be okay.

It’s because I own very pampered pets that have the very best of everything that makes me want to fight for the “cogs” that should be someone’s pampered pet.

So if you want to criticise me for using the word “pet” or for not being a vegan/vegetarian/fruitarian or what ever diet takes your fancy, you are truly showing the real you and what really matters to you.

For me, I don’t care if you don’t like my terminology or my diet and you can call me on it time and time again. I just care about the “cogs”.

So for all the “cogs” I will continue to do whatever I need to do, I will continue to make the unpopular choices if that’s what it takes, I will continue to defend and fight for you, whatever it takes I will do, until you cease to be cogs and become dogs and someones much loved, respected and pampered pets.