Puppy farmers found guilty

Magistrate Kay Ryan today found “puppy farmers” Frederick Dart and Megan Hajridin guilty on all counts in the Townsville Magistrates Court this morning. They will be sentenced on November 22nd.

 

The charges were under the Animal Care and Protection Act CPA and included failing to treat, failing to provide appropriate living conditions, being in possession of seized property, and  breaching a prohibition order.

 

Magistrate Ryan said she found some of the evidence presented by the pair to be “untrue or a distortion the facts at best.” She also said she found Hajridin to be “obdurate and aggressive under questioning.”

 

The RSPCA is pleased with the result.

 

 “We’re delighted and look forward to sentencing on 22nd of this month,” said RSPCA Qld Assistant Chief Inspector Tracey Jackson. “This decision should remind people that prohibition orders are to be taken seriously. Of course the big losers in this case are the animals - around fifty dogs and almost 800 rats and mice. Many of these dogs have been waiting almost three years for the court process to come to an end so that they can be re-homed permanently.”

 

Original article: RSPCA QLD Facebook

 

See also: Guilty pair's animal shelter

 

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November 8th 2011

Pair found guilty of pet rodent neglect

 

Two residents in Townsville in north Queensland were found guilty yesterday of not properly looking after hundreds of rats and mice.

 

Frederick Dart and Megan Harjridin were found guilty of a list of offences including failing to provide appropriate living conditions for nearly 570 rats and more than 270 mice, as well as failing to treat an injured dog and rat at their Townsville property.

 

The pair was also found guilty of owning rats and dogs for trade despite being prohibited from doing so in 2008.

 

RSPCA inspector Tracey Jackson says authorities have been caring for about 50 dogs the couple used to own, while the matters were before the courts.

 

"People have to comply with their duty of care, whether they're looking after one animal or 1,000 animals - each and every one of them," he said.

 

Dart and Harjridin will be sentenced in late November.

 

Original article: ABC News Townsville