Do the punishments being handed down to people found guilty of operating puppy farms fit the crime?
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The Pyramid Hill puppy farm held 235 puppies ahead of its first raid in 2013.
Conditions were described as filthy with 31 dogs dangerously underweight, 35 suffering severe matting of the fur from fecal matter, 30 had dental disease, 10 suffered ear infections and three had untreated wounds.
That’s at least 100 potential charges of animal cruelty.
Including court costs, the family must pay $287,580. That equates to $1223.74 per dog.
To buy a purebred puppy costs between $500 and $2000 dollars depending on breed and condition. Adopting a dog can cost (on average) between $30 and $400. So does a fine of $1223.74 per dog seem fair? Maybe not.
At the same time, is society to blame for the explosion in puppy farm numbers?
Do we want a “cheaper product” so badly that we are happy to turn a blind eye or pretend the horrific conditions of illegal puppy farms just don’t exist?
The RSPCA has hinted more will be uncovered in the “near future” in the wake of verdict handed down by the judge yesterday.
In May the state government announced $5 million funding for the RSPCA.
The money is set to help the RSPCA with data collation, animal seizure, rehabilitation and care of animals seized from illegal puppy farms.
Investigations units will focus more on identifying and closing illegal puppy farms, prosecuting rogue operators as well as caring for, rehabilitating and rehoming seized animals.
RSPCA inspectorate manager Allie Jalbert said more work needs to be done in regards to uncovering illegal puppy farms.
“This case has brought to light the hidden suffering of dogs in these facilities, and we would say this is the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
“We know this is the tip of iceberg and we are out there investigating further ones and you will see other cases like this before the courts in the near future.”
It can’t happen soon enough.
No human or animal should be subjected to the conditions those Pyramid Hill puppies faced.