New homes allowed for 149 dogs

ALMOST 150 dogs that have cost the RSPCA more than $1 million in care can now be given permanent homes after a court threw out a last-ditch appeal by their former owner.

RSPCA officers seized 104 dogs from Geraldine Robertson's kennel at Waterford, in Brisbane's south, in early 2008.

It's alleged the dogs were found with matted fur that was filthy with urine and faeces, and that many of them had severe ear infections.

Since then, they have been in the care of the RSPCA, which says it has spent almost $1.4 million in food and medicine for the dogs and their 45 offspring.

All but two of them are poodles.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court had ordered the dogs be forfeited but Ms Robertson argued that she should be allowed to appeal the decision.

She told the District Court the magistrate had not considered all of the available evidence and intense media interest had scared off her witnesses.

However, Judge Brian Devereaux SC struck off Ms Robertson's notice of appeal and refused leave to amend it.

He said her arguments were vexatious, did not assert questions of law or arguable errors of law and were too vague.

He also awarded costs against her.

Ms Robertson told the court the ruling was "a travesty of justice" and she would now seek counsel on what legal avenues remained to her.

Outside court, RSPCA senior inspector Tracey Jackson said the ruling meant the dogs could finally be given to good homes after almost two years.

"It is the best possible result we could have had today, we are extremely pleased with it," she told reporters.

"The financial cost for this matter for us has been well over the million mark, so it has been quite substantial."

Ms Robertson faces animal cruelty charges over the matter.

 

Reference: www.theaustralian.news.com.au

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