I have been to a lot of court cases regarding puppy factories over the last 18 years, most involved my team and I being charged, but some involved puppy farmers going to court for various breaches of inadequate laws that protect the puppy farmer not the animals.

Yesterday I sat through one of the most sickening cases I have had to endure.

Gloria Jackson has factory farmed puppies for years. She works closely with Kelly Kesper. Gloria breeds and sells online and to pet shops, Cockaliers, Cavoodles, Pugaliers, Beagliers, Jug’s, Pappillions, Japanese chins, Chihuahuas, Aussie terriers, Pugs, Poodles and Bernese Mountain dogs to name but a few. Gloria owned the Maffra pet shop from 2006 until 2010, now she just makes a living out of the puppies she factory farms at the same time she puts her hand out to collect a Centrelink pension. Gloria Jackson has earned thousands of dollars from pimping puppies.

Gloria keeps her dogs in outside dirt pens and the dogs are confined with electric wires to stop them escaping. The dogs kennels consists of a few bits of wood or an old house door leaning up against a tree, Gloria does not waste any money on the dogs that earn her a living.

Gloria was operating her puppy factory illegally, it was not registered with Council and neither were any of the unfortunate dogs that have to endure a living hell.

Gloria was charged with

• Operating a Domestic Animal Business (breeding) on unregistered premises
• Hinder an Authorised Officer (Gloria refused to turn off the electric dog pens to allow inspection)
• 57 unregistered dogs
• 10 breaches of the code of practice

But yesterday the court heard a different story, one that made me physically ill. This is a summary of what we had to sit and listen to.

Gloria Jackson 48 years old is suffering from depression and takes the drug Cipramil. She is a woman of a compassionate nature and shops for her clothes in op-shops, does not eat take away or go on holidays. She survives on a family payment from Centrelink and her de-facto Danny Roberts works full time as a tradesman.

Gloria takes in dogs of ill health rehabilitates them and rehomes them. Gloria operates a non profit animal shelter not a breeding and rearing business. Gloria does have aspirations of operating a breeding business and has built a shed on the property that meets the conditions in the code of practice. The dirt pens that the dogs were found in on the day of the inspection are simply “socialisation pens”. Gloria derives joy from rescuing animals and rehoming them.

Character references for Gloria were passed to the Magistrate, they were written by other puppy farmers including Kelly Kesper, no doubt all stating what a wonderful compassionate woman Gloria Jackson is.

Gloria pleaded guilty and received two community based orders to perform 75 hours of unpaid community work and a conviction was recorded.

Gloria Jackson used the rescue communities good name and reputation and blatantly lied in court in order to continue factory farming her dogs.

Rescue groups and shelters who operate on a shoestring 24/7 to save animals lives will be horrified that Gloria Jackson is cashing in on their good work and reputation just so she can continue to factory farm puppies.

Since the charges have been laid against Gloria, Wellington Council have approved her application for a planning permit to operate a puppy factory however the business is not yet registered with Council. Gloria is breeding and selling dogs illegally and now has two court appearances for failing to comply with the legislation and now a conviction.

Please keep the pressure on Wellington Council, ask them not to register Gloria Jacksons puppy factory. Every puppy factory must apply for re-registration in April 2011. Ask that every puppy factory be inspected before this time and to close down any puppy factory found non compliant. Ask them to stop issuing permits when they cannot enforce the current legislation on the puppy factories within their shire. Ask Council how many staff do they have allocated to inspecting and enforcing the legislation on puppy factories within Wellington.

As for Gloria, never buy an puppy on line or from a pet shop. Ask Centre Link why they are giving puppy farmers family payments, ask the tax office to investigate Gloria Jackson.

Remember Gloria, every dog has their day, we are all watching.

I want Oscar’s Law