Dog found with ‘obvious’ neck wound, puppy died during puppy farm operation

A man and woman have been found guilty in court of breaching their duty of care to dogs and puppies under their care, some suffering horrific wounds and living in putrid conditions. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT.

Sherry Hawley and Jayson Ramsey have been sentenced in relation to 37 charges of "breach of duty of care" which they were found guilty of in April this year.

A court has heard of some of the “putrid” and heartbreaking conditions a number of dogs and puppies were living in, while the people who were meant to be looking after them operated a puppy farm.

After eight days of trial, Sherry Hawley and Jayson Ramsey were found guilty of 37 charges which breached their duty of care to a number of breeding dogs and puppies in their care.

The offences included 28 charges of failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal‘s needs for accommodation or living conditions in a way that is appropriate, two charges of failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal‘s needs for food in a way that is appropriate, six charges of failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal‘s needs for treatment of disease or injury in a way that is appropriate and one charge of failing to comply with an animal welfare direction.

They stemmed from two periods of offending at Bundaberg and Toowoomba.

The first was between June and December 2018 at a property at Kings Creek near Toowoomba, and the second at a property in Abington near Bundaberg in February 2019.

The charges related to failure to provide appropriate living conditions, failure to provide appropriate food and failure to provide treatment for disease or injury.

During June 2018, RSPCA inspectors attended the Kings Creek property where they found five maltese terrier cross dogs living in a confined area that was unclean with a build up of faeces.

There was also no appropriate bedding or enrichment in the area.

A number of other dogs including kelpies and other mixed breeds were found throughout the property.

Some of the animals were found in “insufficient” shelters which didn’t protect them from weather conditions, had no appropriate bedding and were exposed to materials which could have harboured disease.

A number of other dogs including kelpies and other mixed breeds were found throughout the properties.

During another inspection of the property in July that year six kelpie puppies were found in a cubby house-like enclosure, which was still being used after being told it was inappropriate.

Some of them were underweight and one of them had unusual loss of hair on its hocks.

Another dog had an open wound to its neck caused by a band.

Hawley told inspectors at the time that she used the “hairband” to identify which puppies had been sold or were male or female.

In his written decision, Magistrate Andrew Moloney said Hawley was “evasive” about when she had first noticed the wound.

“She first says that she didn’t notice it that day and then later on says she first noticed it that morning, and further says it was about half an hour ago,” he said.

“There is further conversation between Young (an RSPCA chief inspector) and Hawley where she seems to claim no knowledge that something like that could happen i.e. the band digging into the dog’s neck and causing an injury.”

Some of the areas the dogs were found in had inappropriate bedding and a build up of faeces.

A veterinarian examination on the dog indicated the wound was obvious.

“It smells like dead flesh and has granulation indicating that there has been no treatment or attempt to close the wound,” the written decision said.

“Any person in Ms Hawley’s position, would have checked on the wellbeing of the pip, and not left the band on for so long, and not let the wound occur and then become so bad.

“To claim she was so busy (because of RSPCA intervention) that she has been incapable of providing appropriate care is farcical.”

Another litter of kelpie puppies were found in a “cold and damp” shed away from their mother, which had putrid smell and build up of faeces.

The puppies were at an age where they were dependent on their mother for warmth and sustenance and when inspected were found to be cold and in poor condition.

The charges stemmed from two periods in both Bundaberg and Toowoomba.

One puppy in particular was “very small and lethargic” and passed away the night after being seized.

In February 2019 RSPCA inspectors attended the Abington property where a total of 67 dogs were found.

Hawley and Ramsey were both living together at the property.

A number of dogs were found inside the house one dog was found in a room where the door was closed and the dog was confined with a number of puppies.

The room was observed to be stuffy, poorly ventilated with an RSPCA inspector saying the smell in the room was so strong and overpowering they had to breathe through their mouth because breathing through the nose would bring on a “coughing response”.

A number of other dogs and puppies were found throughout the property living in conditions where there was a build-up of faeces without appropriate bedding.

A room was observed to be stuffy, poorly ventilated with an RSPCA inspector saying the smell in the room was so strong and overpowering they had to breathe through their mouth because breathing through the nose would bring on a “coughing response”

In the week leading up to sentencing, 68 dogs were surrendered to the RSPCA by Hawley and Ramsey, with many having been in the care of the organisation for more than two years.

The court was also informed that the pair were no longer planning to continue with their commercial breeding enterprise.

The defendants were allowed to keep five desexed dogs approved under a five year prohibition order made by the court.

They were both convicted.

The charges related to failure to provide appropriate living conditions, failure to provide appropriate food and failure to provide treatment for disease or injury.

Hawley was fined $10,000 and Mr Ramsey was fine $5,000.

RSPCA solicitor Nicole McEldowney said that the resolution of the case was an overwhelming relief for the animals in care at the RSPCA and the staff and foster parents caring for them.

“This is a long time in life of a little dog, but finally these dogs can be adopted into their forever homes,” she said.

“Foster care is something we do to improve the care provided to animals in long term care, but it is an expensive and resource draining exercise, and now we can use those resources for other animals in need.”