Archive for June, 2010

No relief for the Paxton dogs

Published at June 19, 2010 in general. 7 Comments

Whilst Moorabool Council, RSPCA, The Premier and Minister for Agriculture were all back slapping and celebrating how they shut down the Paxton puppy farm, we were following the Paxtons so we could find the dogs that they all failed to help.

It didn’t take us long for Les Paxton to lead us to his good friend and fellow puppy farmer Robert Adamo. Adamo has a few things in common with his mate Les Paxton, he is well known to authorities and he has also been operating an illegal puppy farm for many years.

We witnessed Les Paxton arrive almost daily at Adamo’s. The barking from Adamo’s property increased dramaticaly after Paxton removed the dogs from his property, indicating more dogs were at Adamo’s. On the 25th and 26th March 2010 we watched Les and Robert unload 44 gallon drums from the back of Les’s ute, these drums contained dead animals. We watched as they were thrown in a large pit near the dam. Approximately 2AM on the 26th March Adamo started an enormous fire which lit up the entire paddock, the bodies were burning. Adamo later stated they were dead pigs, they didn’t look like pigs to us. During the investigation we observed the animals living in very cramped filthy conditions alongside each other, pig pens next to dog pens, next to sheep, alpaca’s and ponies. Most of the breeding dogs are hidden inside sheds with their puppies. On one occasion we witnessed 4 dogs living in a caged trailer in the middle of the paddock. On another occasion a dead dog was tossed into the pig pen only to be devoured by hungry pigs. At night Adamo would turn on an elaborate spotlight system that lit up the entire property like it was daylight. He knew we were watching. It truly is a horrible place for animals and operates illegally with the full knowledge of the authorities.

Who is Robert Adamo?

December 5th 2007 RSPCA along with the Police and Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE), raided Robert Adamo’s property and seized four macaque monkeys and a boa constrictor. In court the DSE prosecutor stated there were other animals on the property including emu’s, alpaca’s, dogs, cats, birds and other creatures. Robert Adamo was fined $2000 plus costs.

November 7th 2009 we get an insight into they types of dogs Adamo is selling to the public and he states he “didn’t handle his pups preferring to let the mothers rear the babies and let the new owners bond with their pets”. Unsocialised puppies.

November 14th 2009 the RSPCA once again “investigate” Robert Adamo after receiving complaints about the way he treats his animals. RSPCA Inspector Tim Pilgrim stated “Its a high priority of the RSPCA to raise public awareness about puppy mills”. Great Tim, love your work. Geelong Council spokesperson John Merlo stated Council were putting together a case to make Adamo register his puppy farm and that there were currently 52 registered dogs on the property.

So now 7 months later and 3 years after Adamo’s property was first raided you would think that was plenty of time for Council to do something ?

Apparently not. We have been continually lodging complaints with Geelong Council since we followed Les Paxton to this property in March this year. We have provided Geelong Council with evidence that Adamo is advertising puppies for sale on line and in the Traders Rag newspaper. One week there was $17,000 worth of puppies for sale. All Geelong Council will say is “we are investigating”.

The Paxton and Adamo dogs need your help. Please email Geelong Council and ask them to take action.

mayor@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

tlindsay@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

1. Demand they prosecute Robert Adamo under the Domestic Animals Act for operating an illegal puppy farm.

2. Tell them they have had 3 years to investigate and its time they took action.

Taken from Department of Primary Industries website

If the breeding establishment is unregistered the Council can prosecute the proprietor for operating an unregistered breeding establishment, this offence carries a penalty of 10 penalty units in the Magistrate Court. Also, if the proprietor sells an animal from an unregistered premise this is also an offence which carries a penalty of 10 penalty units in court. If the breeding establishment proprietor is not operating their business in accord with the mandatory Code of Practice, Council officers can issue infringements or file charges in the Magistrates Court. Each breach carries a penalty of up to 10 penalty units in court.


We need Oscar’s Law Mr Brumby, your legislation isn’t working and companion animals deserve better. The Paxton puppy farm wasn’t shut down, it just moved down the road, so you can stop celebrating now and start doing something for our pets. What if it was your dog Mr Brumby?

The forgotten one’s.

Published at June 19, 2010 in general. 3 Comments

In February 2010 we exposed the Paxton puppy factory. Dogs living in appalling conditions touched the hearts of the public and resulted in media right around Australia.   5 months earlier Council Officers had photographed dead dogs chained to trees, dogs covered in faeces with no access to shelter or water. The Council report mentions “avoidable animal fatalities” and the Council photos were too shocking to show the public. They then shelved the report and did nothing until we came along and uncovered their grubby little secret. We entered the Paxton property and released our photographic evidence to the media.

Premier John Brumby spoke out and made the front page of the Geelong Advertiser “I, Like all Victorians, was very distressed to read the claims of the mistreatment of these puppies”. The Minister of Agriculture contacted Moorabool Shire to ensure it had the support it needed to take action.  After 8 years of doing nothing the pressure was on for Moorabool Shire to act swiftly.

Tim Pilgrim the local RSPCA inspector who had visited the Paxton property previously and did nothing stated “his organisation had been to the property and he applauded the Council action”. Good one Tim love your work.

And RSPCA Victorian President Maria Mercurio “joined the chorus of voices” to shut down the puppy farm and stated she had “personally called the Moorabool Shire to see how her organisation could assist in shutting down the farm”. Personally called the Shire, great!

Moorabool Council got their emergency VCAT hearing and all but 5 dogs were to be removed from the property effectively shutting the puppy farm down. On March 11th after Council had inspected the property Mayor Pat Toohey stated “The property owner has complied with the order from VCAT and we’re very pleased that the welfare of the animals has been forefront in the decision making process”.

Well done everyone, Council, RSPCA, the Premier and Minister of Agriculture all working together to shut down the puppy farm. Bullshit. All they did was use ratepayers money to go to court to get the animals moved from that property. The Paxton’s still haven’t been charged with operating an illegal puppy factory, nor have they been charged with cruelty. Remember dead dogs were photographed chained to trees, dogs were covered in their own shit unable to access shelter or water.

I guess if your a puppy farmer in the State of Victoria you can do what ever you want to your dogs, just make sure you have a second property so you can move them when shit hits the fan.

Please email the Moorabool Shire councillors and demand they

1. prosecute the Paxtons under the Domestic Animals Act for operating an unregistered puppy farm.

2. prosecute the Paxtons under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for failing to provide adequate shelter or water and for the “avoidable animal fatalities” council officers stated in their own report.

3. Please let them know WE haven’t forgotten

Read full Council Report on what they found at the Paxton’s puppy farm here msc-agenda-170210web.