The reality of the backyard breeder

Delays in 67-dog case costing RSPCA dearly

Legal delays in the court case of Patrick Doran are "frustrating" and eating away at precious RSPCA funds, says Queensland RSPCA spokesperson Michael Beatty.

Mr Beatty said it has cost the voluntary organisation more than $50,000 to care for the 67 chihuahuas seized from Patrick Doran's Glenbar property last August.

Doran, 65, appealed to the Department of Primary Industries against forfeiting the dogs after being charged with not providing adequate food, water, living conditions and veterinary treatment for the dogs.

The appeal stopped the RSPCA from finding any of the chihuahuas homes and as a result, kennels across south-east Queensland have been "overloaded" with dogs.

Since November last year the court case against Doran has been adjourned four times, including his hearing in the Maryborough Magistrates Court on March 28.

He will re-appear on June 2.

"All I can say is that it is frustrating," said Mr Beatty.

"As legalities drag on, we're spending more and more of our much-needed donated money on feeding and caring for the dogs."

The Maryborough Magistrates Court heard during the start of Doran's trial in March that the 67 chihuahuas mostly cross breeds were kept in squalid living conditions.

Many of them were suffering conjunctivitis, fractured bones, skin problems and the living conditions were "unacceptable", RSPCA inspector Graeme Crowdon told the court.

Doran was living in a house littered with household trash. The floor was covered in dog faeces up to 10cm thick and the only source of drinking water found for the dogs was a tyre filled with sludge. There was no food.

The court heard Doran used a shovel to create a path through faeces in his house.

He would then dump the faeces into a pile outside his back door.

A Hervey Bay pet shop manager reported Doran to the RSPCA last year when he tried to sell her inbred and dehydrated puppies.

He told her he had about 100 at home, the court heard.

The RSPCA is also caring for several puppies which were born after the dogs were seized from Doran's property.

Reference: www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au

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