Les Paxton has operated an illegal puppy farm for at least 8 years. The RSPCA, local Council, Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and others have all known about it, none have had the courage to act. Government authorities have been receiving complaints for years about this puppy farm. Each complaint is followed up with the obligatory inspection, the report is shelved, and there it stays until the next complaint. The 60 + dogs lived their lives in misery and time and time again were overlooked by the authorities. This property is pure hell on earth for animals.
Here is only a very small part of a Council report from late September 2009.
Requirements: Food and Water containers must be non-spillable and of a design that can be easily cleaned.
Council report: Photos show raw meat on the ground for animals to eat, and water containers tipped over.
Requirements: The proprietor must ensure that the establishment is clean and hygienic at all times. All pens must be cleaned out at least once per day.
Council Report: Pens do not appear to be cleaned regularly, faecal matter and significant amounts of mud present in pens, around property and on dogs.
Requirements: All kennels must be provided with a weatherproof sleeping area containing raised beds constructed of material other than concrete, such as wood or plastic.
Council Report: All kennels appear to have concrete bottoms, do not appear to provide protection from rain and five kennels are not sufficient to provide for 30 dogs.
Minimum Standard: Owners must provide dogs with sufficient water, food, shelter and veterinary treatment.
Council Report: Given evidence on site of avoidable fatalities, it is considered that the subject facility does not comply with this standard.
Minimum Standard: Owners must provide both basic necessities and good quality of life for their dogs.
Council Report: Photographic evidence does not reflect a good quality of life for the dogs.
Minimum Standard: Dogs must have access to clean drinking water at all times.
Council Report: From the site photographs, access to clean drinking water does not appear to be readily available.
Minimum Standard: A dogs health and welfare must be checked daily. Veterinary advice must be sought promptly for dogs showing signs of injury, ill health or distress.
Council Report: Given evidence on site of avoidable animal fatalities, it is considered that the subject facility does not comply with this standard.
Minimum Standard: Dogs must be provided with a weatherproof sleeping area and shelter from sun, wind and rain.
Council Report: Some emclosures did not have any roofing, other dogs were tethered without shelter.
Minimum Standard: Enclosures must allow dogs to walk freely, urinate and defecate away from sleeping and eating area’s.
Council Report: Photographs indicate that there are some enclosures which do not appear to be large enough to provide sleeping and eating area’s. Further there is evidence of animals tethered in exposed area’s without shelter (in these instances there is evidence of fatalities)
Minimum Standard: Vehicles must not be used for permanent housing for dogs.
Council Report: At least 3 animals were tethered to derelict motor vehicles.
Investigations show that the applicant is running a puppy farm and often advertises through the Melbourne Trading Post. Other issues that arose from the visit were; inappropriate and unhygienic manner of animal carcasses left to rot on the ground. The number of dogs on the property - 59. The manner in which dogs are housed. The house does not provide adequate shelter or space per animal and as shown on the photographs obtained by compliance officers, many of the animals were living and covered in their own faeces.
The Victorian Politicians tell us the legislation is working and the multitude of Government departments perpetuate this myth by covering up the cruelty time and time again. Every Government department that inspected this property in the last 8 years and turned their back on these dogs have blood on their hands. The report stated AVOIDABLE FATALITIES.
This is why we need OSCAR’S LAW. No one is looking after the animals, no one.
On February 22nd 2010 once again we prepared ourselves to walk right into the firing line simply for what we believe in - justice for the dogs on puppy farms and to expose the authorities cover up of this atrocious cruelty. I cannot find words to describe how traumatic it is to witness abhorrent cruelty time and time again. My thanks to the amazing, brave, committed, loyal activists who stand with me and risk everything to bring the public the truth.
The dogs are still living in their own faeces and urine, they don’t have adequate shelter or even a warm bed.
They still don’t have food bowls, raw slimy meat is left rotting on the ground.
The dogs still do not have an adequate water supply, most of the water bowls were empty, the little water that was there was filth.
How many dogs have endured this hell in the last 8 years while the authorities did nothing? How many dogs have died and their bodies left to rot on this property while the authorities did nothing?
The dogs need us, we cannot let them down.
Please email the Council Mayor and the RSPCA Inspectorate Manager Greg Boland gboland@rspca.vic.gov.au
Tell them enough is enough! Tell them you want them to immediately remove the surviving dogs and ban Les Paxton from ever owning an animal again and charge him under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act NOW.
And then email the Premier John Brumby john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au
Demand change, demand OSCARS LAW because our pets do not deserve this.
Oscars Law
Abolish the mass production of dogs. Make factory farming of dogs illegal
Ban the sale of animals from pet shops, online and in print media
Encourage people to adopt animals from shelters, pounds and rescue organisations
Work on increasing the re-homing rate in pounds and shelters and introduce the no-kill philosophy which has proven to work in USA. http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/
Commence running a REAL campaign about true and responsible companion animal care
Because every dog deserves to be safe.
i am not surprised about a place like this existing. the law protects these kind of establishments when they are purely wrong. how many more farms are there that have slipped under the radar? how many dogs are suffering because govt, councils and the operators are clearly only interested in obtaining money. this is why it is allowed to continue - GREED!!!!!!!!!
This is just awful - how can we allow to keep happening in Australia. Every week I see ill informed people stood outside pet shops looking at the animals and actively supporting this shocking trade. We all need to work together to end this. These poor dogs need us to speak up for them so please everyone when you have looked at this site d your bit and try to create a change - these dogs are relying on us to get them out of this hell.
I feel as miserable as those poor dogs look. I am shaking with emotion for the animals, in anger of the terroist “breeding” them & disgusted that our authorities will not act.
How? Why? There is no answer. Even the small step of getting volunteers to walk & excercise these dogs would bring a small amount of joy to their miserable lives. That costs nothing, but then I guess that would expose the animal cruelty to kind hearted volunteers. I can’t believe this happens in Australia - a country renowed for being animal lovers & have more pets per capita than most others……so, so, sad.
“Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages”
Debra, can’t say how absolultely angry I am, for you to be made out to be the wrong one when all the while these monsters commit horrible acts on these poor dogs!!!!! What is wrong with this picture??? These poor animals are not property, they are living, breathing creatures that deserve so much more. It is a sad day for humanity!! All I can say is keep up the good fight Debra, each dog you rescue is another dog saved from it’s abusive owners. You are my hero Debra!!!!!!!!!
This article could not have been written soon enough. I feel so bad for these beautiful creatures and it makes me sick to my stomach to think that places like this exsist!!!!!
I dont understand how anyone could mistreat an animal especially to the extent that these animals have been…..
We need to make a stand for these Dogs/puppies. We need to be their voice and advocate for them as they cannot defend themselves.
Rebecca Roberts
I have witnessed so much cruelty and so many denials and excuses from the authorities, even when the truth of tethered, sick, dying and dead dogs is staring them in the face. Suffering, cruelty and death resulting from greed, neglect and extreme ignornace, and lack of action by those empowered to take action. Today however the media picked up this particular story on radio and in rural and metropolitan newspapers. The story even made the Sydney Morning Herald and with that came an outcry of rage and anger from people all around Australia in comments back to the newspapers. I have to keep the faith that the tide is slowly turning and with that faith, we all have to continue moving forward and advocating for these animals so that hellholes like this and so many others with their colour and movement websites are a thing of the past. In Australia we have had many important ’sorry’ days for those in society who have been abused, forgotten, cast aside. I wonder if in time we will also have a sorry day for all these animals in Australia who have been forgotten, where the authorities and others have turned their backs and walked away only to shuffle some more paper. We will never know how many have died but we can all keep fighting to ensure it will soon be a thing of the past and there will never again be nameless and faceless dogs who keep falling through the beaurocratic cracks and end up in a pit or on a rubbish heap.
WHY WHY WHY ??????
This is outrageous, thank God you do what you do Debra and ALV.
This would of remained covered up again. Government, RSPCA all of them are incompetent.
We need realistic laws NOW
So people in government departments ; the RSPCA with its mega dollars & animal inspectors - yet again fail to advocate on behalf of the victims of shocking cruelty, this time in Beremboke.
It takes a small group of volunteers, led by Debra who utilse their spare time to expose these latest atrocious puppy farmers .
The RSPCA needs to be investigated. Many people donate to this charity trusting they will stand up for “all creatures great and small” That the RSPCA is failing to do so is an absolute disgrace.
I fully agree with Jane’s comments about the need for an investigation into the RSPCA. There has been too many instances where they have failed to act, too many instances where complainant’s trying to alert authorities to an animal welfare issue are buckpassed or ignored and too many in Australia, individuals and groups, having the same negative and frustrating experience with the RSPCA over and over again while the animals are the casualty. The RSPCA are not fulfilling what is their very reason for existance, to protect “all creatures great and small”, rather are increasingly entrenched in a marketing overdrive simply to remain in power, unless of course the cameras are on and pointed in their direction. Truly disappointing for most who have supported and believed in them, but a matter of life and death for the snimals. Their repeated non action cannot continue to be ignored or explained away with a media release.
Good Morning.
I look at my pampered dogs around the house & weep as I look at this.
Please continue your efforts to stop this horror. I doubt the RSPCA or politicians will ever do it.
They stuff up repeatedly.
As a registered breeder I probably do not meet your approval but I have been a member of AL some 30 years ago in another country & life.
My nightmare has always been of any of mine ending up in somewhere like this. Now I can desex all my babies before they leave me, which I do with all that I do not keep myself. That goes some way to helping.
Even though we have different views in some respects, not many though, I applaud & appreciate your concerns & efforts. I have a link to your website on mine.
Words fail me at the photos & horror of it all.
No living creature on the planet deserves this treatment. So just
Thank you for being there for them all.
Thankyou Christina and welcome
We are not against ethical registered breeders. We are against puppy farmers who factory farm there dogs to supply the pet market.
thanks
Debra
what can i say different that 99 per cent of people have wrote,this is a living nightmare that these animals in puppy farms have to go through i only wish our goverment pulls the finger out of their bums and act on this problem now,this is a disgraceful mess that has been on going for years and now is the time it stops before more animals have to suffer…
Hi Chritina I too am an ANKC registered breeder. There is no contradiction in terms of being an ANKC breeder and a supporter of animal welfare and supporting this and other campaigns. To me the two should naturally and instictively go hand in hand. Neither should there ever be any class distinction or boundaries between people with the same love of animals who share the same objectives. United together just makes it better for the animals and a greater base of knowledge, experience and support.
Shame on the RSPCA for not doing anything about these horrendous puppy farms. If you ever watched any of the humane societies in the USA (on animal planet foxtel) they put this country to shame. They actually do something about animal abuse and arrest and prosecute the people who are cruel to animals. Same on our Government who turn a blind eye.
Keep up your good work Debra. The more this is exposed the more hope that something will be done to stop it.
Poor Oscar where is he now.
An absolute disgrace to both the authorities & as for the Paxton’s, well she’s obviously not undernourished. I would like to treat them the same way & see how long they survive.
I hope karma gets them both in a big way, as obviously our governments don’t care.
I am appaulled & disgusted this continues in 2010.
What hope do our elderly citizens & victimized children have?
Good luck to all of us who are trying to do something, I’m sure if we were in government, we could get simple legislations passed & make the government profit on HUGE MANADORY fines, seizure of assets etc.
I’m sad that these poor animals have to suffer for human greed.
SHAME ON YOU PAXTONS - I HOPE YOUR LIFE ENDS UP HELL.
Politicians have a lot to answer for. The only way to fight them is take votes away from them.
The Animal Justice Party will be up and running soon and will speak out for those without a voice. Puppy farms will be shut down. This cruelty has to end now!
Thank god for you people.
Sick,sick,sick.