VIDEO, PHOTOS: Pyramid Hill puppy farm kept 196 dogs in "filth"

THE pictures and other evidence coming out of two separate cases before the Kerang Magistrates Court this week involving puppy farms were incredibly disturbing.

It's staggering that anyone could willingly allow animals to live in such conditions, little own profit from such horrendous practices.

But perhaps most disturbing was the declaration by a Charlton woman convicted and fined $40,000 for operating an illegal puppy farm at Lake Marmal that she was already half way through building another dog breeding establishment.

How could any penalty handed down to someone for operating a puppy farm that a magistrate declared ''failed spectacularly'' not include a condition banning the offender from opening another straight away?

If this is a case of magistrates not having the power to ban anyone convicted of puppy farm offences from owning pets in the future, then an immediate review of the laws and penalties is required.

If this is a case of a magistrate not using the powers given to them to ensure someone is banned, then the community has every right to feel disappointed in such a decision.