Puppy farmers fined for mistreating dogs

Two puppy farmers have been fined and ordered to pay more than $50,000 in costs after a RSPCA raid found dogs living in appalling conditions and freezers full of animal carcasses.

Frederick Dart and Megan Ann Hajridin pleaded guilty on December 4 to 131 charges of breaching their duty of care for animals.

Magistrate Brian Smith on Friday fined the pair $12,500 and awarded $57,161 costs plus legal costs to the RSPCA.

The money will go towards the medical treatment and continuing care of the seized animals.

While no conviction was recorded, both Dart and Hajridin were placed on probation for two years and banned from owning pets for a commercial purpose during that time.

In the RSPCA's biggest Queensland raid, inspectors seized 113 dogs, one cat, 488 rats, 73 mice and several guinea pigs and birds from the couple at their property south of Townsville on July 31.

Inspectors also discovered a large upright freezer full of frozen carcasses of puppies, guinea pigs, rats and fowl.

The RSPCA described to the court how the animals were kept in small transport cages piled up on top of each other in the defendants' shed.

They also said many of the dogs had little to no water, required veterinary treatment and had fur matted with faeces and urine.

The RSPCA presented evidence to the court that the defendants were selling puppies online.

RSPCA Qld Townsville Inspector Cliff Singer said although the case had cost the RSPCA more than $264,000, it was still a good result.

"We were never going to receive the full cost it has cost us over the last six months," Mr Singer said.

"However, all the animals were forfeited to the RSPCA and none are to be returned, and that's the best thing for the animals.

"It shows that not only the RSPCA but now the courts look very unfavourably at people who do not meet the Animal Protection Act."

Reference: http://news.theage.com.au

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