22/07/2024
RSPCA Tasmania has succeeded in shutting down Tasmania’s biggest puppy farm, Tasmanian Labradoodles.
More than 250 labradoodles are now being surrendered to the RSPCA and financial help and loving homes are urgently needed.
The immediate and permanent closure of Tasmanian Labradoodles and surrender of all of its dogs was secured last Friday, in a landmark out of court Agreement.
RSPCA CEO Andrea Dawkins said this was an historic win for animal welfare in Tasmania, but the hard work wasn’t over yet.
“We have been fighting to close Tasmania’s largest puppy farm for around three years, and we’ve finally succeeded,” Ms Dawkins said.
“Now, the RSPCA needs urgent financial help to provide veterinary care, foster homes and ultimately adoption for more than 250 labradoodles currently at the property.
“Many of these dogs have never been in contact with a human, they will need so much attention and care before they are ready to be part of a loving family with the life they so deserve.
“This is unprecedented, it is expensive, and the RSPCA needs your urgent help.
“We expect it will cost at least $1,000 per dog to give them the vet checks, vaccinations, behavioural assistance, food and temporary rehoming – and this is before we understand if any of the dogs have serious conditions that require further attention.
“This is an urgent call out to anyone who can donate to the RSPCA to help us give this critical care to hundreds of labradoodles. No matter how small the donation, every dollar counts.
“We have set a goal to raise $300,000 to help us in providing the care, medical requirements and loving foster environments to set these labradoodles on their pathway to forever homes.
“We will also need foster homes and ultimately adoptions for every one of the 250 dogs.
“We’re asking Tasmanians to open their homes and hearts to these beautiful animals, that deserve a second chance at a loving life.
“Despite their rough start, they have an invincible love of humans. They are friendly and loving, with a gentle temperament that makes them the most ideal family pet.”
The RSPCA first brought 70 charges for over breeding against the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles in early 2023.
The charges related to alleged overbreeding between April 2021 and February 2023, under the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Regulations 2016
A long and hard fought legal battle concluded on Friday, with the signing of an out of court Agreement that secured the puppy farm’s closure, and surrender of all of its dogs.
“I’d like to thank the Department of Natural Resources for their assistance with this long-running matter,” Ms Dawkins said. “This support included the provision of two vets for a general health check of dogs several weeks ago.”
The RSPCA Tasmania is also calling on the Tasmanian Government to urgently change to the Dog Regulations, to ensure that this can never happen again.
“The reality is that the laws have failed all of us,” Ms Dawkins said. “The existing law does nothing deter this from happening and nothing to penalise when it does.”
“Under the existing laws, the Tasmanian Labradoodle owners could have faced a maximum penalty of just $273,000, which is just a cost of doing business for a puppy farm with an estimated revenue of around $2 million.
“The laws must change. We cannot let a situation like this happen ever again.
“Tasmania needs laws that ban puppy farms, and we need mandatory registration, standards and conduct for breeding established.”
Donate or sign up to foster a Ladradoodle here:
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https://www.rspcatas.org.au/donate/
