Two women have been convicted after more than 100 small dogs, cats, birds and kangaroos were discovered living in squalor in a ‘house of horrors’ puppy farm.
The RSPCA raided the house in South Australia’s Mid North region before seizing 100 small dogs, 11 kangaroos and 11 cats on November 3, 2020.
Two women, in their 60s, were both registered dog breeders and were living on the premises without electricity.
Two dogs and a bird had to be put to sleep because of their bad condition.
The women pleaded guilty to 11 charges of animal ill-treatment in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Many of the dogs found in the ‘house of horrors’ were unwell (pictured) with dental issues and ear infections common. Many dogs had to have surgery, with some requiring amputations
The dogs had years of neglect (pictured). The women, in their sixties, who avoided jail time, lived in the filthy house with the animals. Disturbingly they were registered dog breeders
Many of the animals needed extensive vet treatment – including surgeries and amputations.
Animals were found in kitchen cupboards and in cages stacked on top of each other.
Faeces had been left so long it had hardened on the floor, along with dirt and hair.
One of the kangaroos had a broken leg and there were also ducklings, a wattle bird and an injured magpie.
Other animals had ear infections and many had severe dental problems, with one needing part of its jaw removed.
One of the dogs, which were euthanised, was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Winston that had one eye missing and cancer in the other.
Eighty of the animals were seized and the RSPCA issued welfare notices for the remaining animals.
Seventy-seven animals that were not seized were taken to the RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter to be examined by vets.
The dogs in the squalid premises were popular smaller breeds – Maltese, Miniature Poodles, Silky Terriers, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, Papillons and King Charles Cavalier Spaniels.
RSPCA South Australia chief inspector Andrew Baker called it a ‘house of horrors’ in a statement and one of the most ‘extreme cases of animal hoarding’ the RSPCA had ever seen.
The animals were found everywhere in the house, including in the the kitchen shelves surrounded by food items (pictured)
There were so many animals in the squalid house, dogs were forced to find any space available. There was dirt spread up the walls and excrement, mixed with hair and dirt had hardened on the floor, making it uneven (pictured)
‘These defendants were registered breeders and had previously supplied puppies to pet shops,’ he said.
‘Imagine how you would feel if you bought one of those puppies and later learnt of the conditions in which it had been bred and kept.’
RSPCA officers returned to the scene on November 10, 2020 and were confronted with more distressing scenes including a goat with a broken leg and starving turtles.
The RSPCA took all remaining animals, except for four dogs, due to the mental health of the women.
All the seized animals have since been re-homed.
The RSPCA said its legal counsel Simon Perrie stated the offences were so serious that a jail term was required.
However, Mr Perrie believed a prison sentence should be suspended given the age of the women and their lack of a criminal history.
The Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith agreed and gave the pair a six-month sentence, reduced to three months and 18 days due the women pleading guilty.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year, $500 good behaviour bond.
The women were also ordered to pay $2000 towards the vet bill, which cost the RSPCA $46,000.
All of the dogs were popular small to medium breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. One, called Winston, was found missing an eye and cancer in his remaining one. He had other health issues and had to be put to sleep (pictured the dogs on the kitchen floor)
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