Archive for July, 2010

Daddy’s little girl

Published at July 23, 2010 in general. 65 Comments

John McCarrey has been operating his puppy factory for years, and was in business with Ron Wells. This was the property that Ron kept his larger breeds on. When it came time for the dogs to give birth, Ballarat puppy factory staff would meet John McCarrey on the side of the road and swap dogs, dogs due to whelp would be given to the Ballarat staff and dogs that have just weaned puppies were give back to John. John McCarrey would take the dogs to his property to be impregnated again. This trade in dogs occurred on the side of the highway between Ballarat and the NSW/Victorian border on a weekly basis.

Woodpark puppy factory is currently being investigated by the RSPCA. Business must be good though because now John’s daughter, Gemma McCarrey and her fiance Samuel Hartley, want to open their own puppy factory and have lodged an application with Mitchell Shire Council.

Please lodge an objection and stop this family business that relies on the cruel exploitation of our companion animals.

VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!! JULY 29TH 2010 – PERMIT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

 I want Oscars Law

Valley View-mail order puppies

Published at July 23, 2010 in general. 21 Comments

Welcome to Valley View Dog Rearing and Breeding Establishment, the experts in high quality Labradoodle, Schnoodle, Spoodle, Roodle and Maltese Poodle breeding. We are an Australian Government Registered Breeder with 20 years of experience breeding hypo-allergenic, non-shedding family companion dogs. Dog is man’s best friend…..As we offer world wide delivery, many of our puppies are now living happily interstate or overseas. Valley View Dog Breeders website

FAQ page – Q: Are you a registered breeder? A: Yes, we are registered with the Government. We are not “backyard breeders” and have many years experience breeding dogs. The requirements in Victoria for registered breeders are the strictest in Australia, and we exceed all requirements and are subject to regular inspections by our local Shire ranger.

With a few clicks of your mouse you can have a puppy delivered to your door. The consumer will believe the hype on the glossy website and will buy a puppy without even visiting the property to view the parents or the living conditions. But the truth is these are simply factory farmed puppies and the parents live in deplorable conditions.

Some dogs are housed in open tin sheds on cold concrete with no bedding at all

Some dogs are kept outside in cold dirt barren pens

And of course the puppies. We observed up to 50 puppies in a lonely cold tin shed awaiting to be shipped out interstate and overseas. Are you one of these people sitting at your computer ordering your puppy with a few clicks of the mouse ?

One thing Valley View got right on their website, they are registered with local Government and they are subject to regular inspections by the local Shire ranger, however they do not ‘exceed all requirements’ they are operating in violation to the mandatory code of practice.

So how effective is local Government in enforcing the code that is designed to protect the animals? Please feel free to write to this local Government and ask.

Our pets are being factory farmed. Local Government are the only authority under the current legislation that can enforce the code of practice and they are not doing their job. The pet industry is lying and manipulating the public, the puppy farmers are getting richer, the dogs are suffering. Their only hope is us. I want Oscars Law.

The power is in our hands

Published at July 11, 2010 in general. 7 Comments

nobby1Today was a good day.

I took myself for a drive to clear my head and re-group. The last few weeks have been intense with meetings, rescues, organising vets, homes, working, campaining and I needed time out.

I passed the first bus stop and saw Nobby staring straight at me and my thoughts returned to that day in 2004 when over 50 people attended the Ballarat puppy farm – Nobby’s “home”. Nobby, the dog that has haunted me, the dog we couldn’t save. After that photo was taken, we returned to try and save Nobby, but we were to late she had already been killed. The guilt has been there ever since, we came to late.

RSPCA are now using the photo of Nobby in a brilliant way,  to help raise awareness about puppy factories.

I past the second bus stop, the third, the fourth, and she kept staring straight at me. I pulled over to get coffee and the papers and told myself to get a grip, I cannot change what happened , at least we tried to save her.

And there it was, The Age article, “RSPCA calls for a boycott on pet shop puppies”, finally! They are saying what we are saying.

The RSPCA need to be commended and their campaign to close puppy factories supported. They are considered to be the leading Australian animal welfare group in the country and their ability to reach the public and educate them is huge and will make all the difference to the forgotten dogs hidden away on puppy factories. Spread the campaign message and keep spreading it, don’t ever give up, the power is in our hands.

As I passed the fifth bus stop my beautiful Nobby was staring back at me as if to say “Its OK, I have come to help” Nobby, your life is your message, and your message is going global sweet girl.

 

The battle from within.

Published at July 10, 2010 in general. 14 Comments

Dedicated to those that fight the good fight and never give up, no matter what, because you are the change people have been waiting for.

The battle has never been easy. Over the last 20 odd years I have witnessed good people burn out, suffer raging depression, give up in fits of despair “Its all to much, to hard and no one is listening”. Activists are a close knit community, we understand what each other is going through. Many times I have came home from a puppy factory and have found myself uncontrollably sobbing wondering what the hell I am going to do next to try and get these dogs some help, a vet, water, a blanket, freedom, a home. Its a terrible feeling of hopelessness that is always with you, that drives you to keep doing something, anything, because the dogs suffering on these factory farms is so intense and relentless how can you not try everything.

We have all collectively cried hundreds of tears and mourned those we couldn’t save. And then we pick each other up, we look after each other, and we do it all over again, because we know its worth it, the animals need us to bare witness and speak out. Whether you expose the horrid piggeries, fight to ban the battery cage, volunteer in a shelter, run a shelter, work at re-homing rescued pets, close circuses, fight jump racing, all of the above or simply try and educate, enlighten and spread the message on behalf of abused animals, you are all exposed to the battle. But remember this, YOU are the people who are leading the way and laying the foundations for change to occur.

The battle is fought on many fronts, sadly some battles are fought from within.

We are stalked on our forums and facebook pages by those that disagree with our opinions, our lack of opinions, our words, our lack of words, who knows, but they are there, always on stand by, lurking, ready to pounce the minute we post something they don’t like. Over the last few months I have witnessed a chosen few being publicly attacked and even threatened and intimidated for doing what ever they can to save animals.

We have a responsibility to lead the way, to educate and engage people who are all on their own journey and just want to help animals. If they don’t want to hear your message or just aren’t ready, move on the next person does. And for those of you that are being abused, intimidated and threatened, simple, hit the delete button.

We have good work to do. See you out there 🙂

I Want Oscars Law

People Power!

Published at July 3, 2010 in general. 12 Comments

After 5 days of listening to authorities dismiss the situation in Meredith and refusing to act, we decided to put a call out to the people and request help for the dogs! With less than 24 hours notice over 20 people travelled to Meredith and they brought beds, blankets, dog coats, dog toys and bags and bags of dog food.

After explaining and reassuring the owner the reason for our visit, she was grateful for the help and we rolled our sleeves up and got stuck into it!  This committed group of people gave up their Saturday and spent over 3 hours scrubbing, hosing and sweeping out the shed which the dogs live in 24 hours a day. All of the dogs were fitted out with a new cosy jacket and taken out of the shed into the fresh air for a walk and loads of hugs and TLC.

It was sadly obvious that some of the dogs required veterinary care. Some of the dogs had mammary tumours, nearly all dogs require dental work, one dog had a build up of matted twisted fur around her teeth which would of been very painful. Members of the team spent some time with the owner and successfully negotiated a surrender of 11 dogs. They will now receive the veterinary care they require be desexed and sent to loving homes. We are welcoming donations for veterinary costs.

The remaining dogs were provided with a brand new bed, new blankets and some toys. Tonight there pens are clean and they are warm.

These are the dogs that Golden Plains Shire failed, the dogs they said were “fine” and that “rangers are not worried about the animals”. Well shame on you Golden Plains Shire. Shame on you for sitting on your arses and collecting the owners dog registration fee’s year in year out and failing to provide support for her or her dogs. We know you don’t care but the community does and they did your job for you.

It took less than 24 hours of organising and over 20 people gave up their day because they care, even if you don’t.

Please email the Golden Plains Shire as they are the ONLY RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY that can enforce the relevant legislation. Council have compounded the problem by failing to identify that the owner and the dogs needed help long before it got to this stage where animals have died due to their unaceptable living conditions. They have quite happily accepted the owners annual rates and dog registration fees but they have failed in their duty of care.

Mayor – Jenny Blake

  • enquiries@gplains.vic.gov.au

John Brumby who are you kidding?

Published at July 3, 2010 in general. 16 Comments

The Department of Primary Industries released their “Council Bulletin” today for July 2010.

Under the heading “Operation of commercial dog and cat breeding establishments” we were disgusted to read

“After several media articles on allegedly poorly operated dog breeding establishments the Premier stated on 26 February 2010 that he was distressed over claims about the operation of rogue dog breeding establishments in Victoria. He stated his belief that the State has strong laws in place to protect animal welfare and that Councils together with the RSPCA are equipped with the appropriate powers to prosecute alleged breaches of the laws associated with the operation of breeding establishments”

Really Mr Brumby! Where are these strong laws and why haven’t they be enforced then?

Your strong laws have done nothing to protect these dogs! NO CHARGES LAID, NO DOGS SAVED, PUPPY FARMERS FREE TO KEEP BREEDING THE GUTS OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOGS

And yet when we rescue a little dog we named “Oscar” we were arrested and the dog was taken back to the very person who abused and neglected him. The puppy farmer has never been charged even though the video evidence clearly demonstrates cruelty and neglect. Mr Brumby thousands of dogs are suffering right now and your strong laws are doing nothing to ease their suffering or provide the public with confidence that people who are cruel to animals will be dealt with by “strong laws”.

Stop trying to convince yourself that the laws are working because they are not and the public is sick to death of puppy factories, the suffering, the killing of healthy dogs in our pounds and now you are also trying to take away the ability of rescue groups to save dogs on death row.  SHAME ON YOU MR BRUMBY

DO SOMETHING USEFUL AND BRING IN OSCARS LAW

Another puppy factory in Geelong!

Published at July 1, 2010 in general. 41 Comments

Our latest undercover investigation has revealed distressing conditions for about 30 dogs on a puppy factory in Meredith, near Geelong.

For the last 48 hours we have tried to get authorities to act. Now we need your help to increase the pressure. The code of practice is very clear and is mandatory. Only local Council officers can inspect under, and enforce this mandatory code of practice. Golden Plains Shire media spokesperon stated “The visit found all dogs on the property are registered with Council and conditions are fine”.

It is not acceptable to collect money for dog registrations and then allow the animals to endure conditions that are so bad that they are suffering and dying.

We witnessed countless violations to the code as we inspected the property. The conditions were heartbreaking and very distressing. The temperature was -2 degrees and most of the dogs were huddled in wet mud or on a cold concrete floor. Some of the dogs did have beds however they were putrid and full of holes.

After leaving the cold filthy shed full of dogs we heard what we thought may be more dogs behind the shed in the thick scrub. We had to jump a fence and walk hunched over underneath all the thick tree branches to reach these dogs who appeared to be hidden.

It was very distressing to witness tiny dogs with very large heavy chains attached to their collars.

These chained dogs were not easy to get to, there was no gate or pathway leading to them. How are they checked and given food and water? We observed one dog drinking from a muddy puddle as this was her only source of water, she then went back into her kennel which was inches deep in cold wet mud and curled up and attempted to keep warm in the below zero temperatures.

The Pet Industry continue to tell us that these puppy factories do not exist in Australia, the Government ignores the issue and hopes we will go away. The fact is there are over 100 puppy factories in Victoria alone. The public wants to see an end to puppy factories and the mass unnecessary killing of healthy rehomable dogs in our pounds.The Government has got it wrong and is out of touch with public opinion. Even the RSPCA are now coming out and saying “Don’t buy from pet shops” and have started their own campaign to close down puppy factories. How much longer is the Government going to hide from this issue? How many more dogs will suffer and die on these puppy factories.

We need you to email the Golden Plains Shire and urge them to take action. Copy and paste the draft below into an email, add your own comments and email to:

Mayor Jenny Blake – enquiries@gplains.vic.gov.au

We are determined that the thousands of dogs locked up, abused and neglected will no longer be hidden away on these puppy factories. The truth cannot be changed until it can be seen, the power is in your hands and you will be responsible for shutting down this cruel industry that treats dogs as breeding machines.

OSCARS LAW