Kerrie Fitzpatrick on trial for multiple animal cruelty offences at Parrakie puppy farm
A breeder blamed her partner for numbers exploding to 300 at their puppy farm – where eight dogs had to be euthanised. Now she’s been called not credible in court.
Police & Courts
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A breeder who said a kennel cough outbreak was the reason behind a overcrowded puppy farm has been called out by a prosecutor for lack of evidence.
Standing trial, Kerrie Maree Fitzpatrick told the court her former partner was to blame for the appalling conditions and not taking care of the sick dogs.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday heard Ms Fitzpatrick and Colin Ross were found in possession of 300 dogs during an RSPCA inspection, despite the local council permitting the breeders to own no more than 100.
The court heard RSPCA seized 10 Border Collies from the property due to their poor condition, with eight being euthanised due to “extreme mental distress”.
Ms Fitzpatrick, from Parrakie in the Murray Mallee, is charged with animal cruelty offences including ill-treating an animal and failing to comply with animal welfare notices in 2018.
The court heard from RSPCA Chief Inspector Andrea Lewis who attended the farm in 2018.
Inspector Lewis said the state of the enclosures was poor, with multiple piles of dog faeces and insufficient bedding for the number of dogs in each pen.
The court also heard there was a dead rat found in one of the enclosures, as well as spoiled food and not enough water for the dogs.
Inspector Lewis estimated 75 to 80 per cent of the dogs appeared fearful of humans, including seven-week-old French bulldog puppies who “went stiff in the hand and gasped for air” when handled.
RSPCA veterinarian Emma Kilgour testified that the dogs seized from the property were the most “shut down” dogs she had seen in her career.
The court heard all the seized dogs had fleas, conjunctivitis, severe cases of intestinal worm infestations and were placed on behavioural medication.
Giving evidence on Monday, Ms Fitzpatrick told the court that sick dogs were taken to the vet and Ross was responsible for giving the dogs anti-worming and anti-flea medications.
Ross was fined a total of $8050 in August last year, after pleading guilty to six counts of failing to comply with the direction of an animal welfare notice and ill-treating the 10 Border Collies.
Ms Fitzpatrick said the farm’s population grew after many puppies contracted kennel cough and were unable to be sold.
In closing statements on Wednesday, prosecutor Peter Salu said they did not accept Ms Fitzpatrick’s explanation.
“There is no evidence of kennel cough in any of the attendances,” he said.
“If she’s making that up … that’s one where you can actually catch her out with not telling the whole truth.”
Craig Caldicott, for Ms Fitzpatrick, told the court Ross was the “driving force” behind the puppy farm and majority of the euthanised dogs had been registered to him.
Mr Caldicott said it couldn’t be determined whether it was the environment or genetics that caused the dog’s mental illnesses.
“There’s no suggestion that any of the dogs … were malnourished,” he said.
Magistrate Karim Soetratma reserved his judgment until a later date.
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