Allison Biabchetto: Dog breeder mistreated animals with illegal devices

A breeder has admitted to horrific claims she mistreated dogs, forcing them to wear electric shock collars and and live in small cages.

A rural dog breeder has been found guilty of mistreating her animals with illegal devices and pint-sized dog pens.

Allison Biabchetto, 54, faced Goulburn Local Court on April 13 on charges of animal mistreatment at her dog breeding facility in Gurrundah.

Biabchetto pleaded guilty to possession of electric shock collars, using the shock collars on dogs, possessing steel-jawed rabbit traps, and not complying with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Her lawyer Laura Clements said Biabchetto was “ready to face the music”.

On November 24, RSPCA inspectors visited the dog breeding facility and found numerous instances of animal mistreatment. At least four dogs were wearing electric collars, which give the dogs an electric shock when they bark.

Dog breeder Allison Biabchetto was sentenced at Goulburn Court on animal mistreatment offences.

Fourteen illegal electric shock collars were found on the property and confiscated. Biabchetto admitted to the RSPCA that she used the collars on the larger dogs to stop them barking, although she insisted she kept the shocks on the lowest level.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said the use of the collars was unacceptable because the animals weren’t able to stop the pain.

“Those animals are putting up with the shocks and can’t escape it,” she said.

“They can’t do anything about it.”

Biabchetto also had a steel-jawed trap on the property, which was set to catch feral rabbits. She told RSPCA inspectors rabbits were a “real problem”.

Magistrate Beattie said the intention of the traps was clear.

“Clearly the potential is there to harm any rabbit,” she said.

Dog breeder Allison Bianchetto faced Goulburn Court on animal cruelty charges.

Ms Clements said her client had bought the shock collars and steel-jawed traps online from Queensland and hadn’t realised they were illegal in NSW.

Biabchetto also pleaded guilty to housing small breed dogs in pens that don’t meet the minimum size requirements set out by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Magistrate Beattie said part of the role of a dog breeder is to ensure the welfare of the animals.

“The way some of the dogs were in the pens is serious,” she said.

“It’s not an appropriate way to care for and treat animals.”

Ms Clements argued the dog breeding business was newly formed in the past 18 months, so Biabchetto wasn’t aware of many of the regulations. However, Magistrate Beattie determined ignorance was no excuse.

“The need to educate yourself about what you can and can’t do is crucial,” she said.

“You should have had the knowledge before you went into business.”

Dog breeder Allison Biabchetto said she was happy for the court process to be over.

The court heard the accused was “ultimately grateful” for the intervention and assistance of the RSPCA inspectors in her dog breeding business.

“Ms Biabchetto is someone who is trying to do the right thing and finding it hard,” Ms Clements said.

“She’s grateful for the help of the RSPCA to get this business up to the right standard.”

Although the magistrate acknowledged that the breaches had been rectified after they had been brought to Biabchetto’s attention, she ruled the duty of care had been neglected.

“There is a strong need to protect animals. They’re relying on you to protect them,” she said.

Magistrate Beattie fined Biabchetto a total of $6450 and ordered half of the fine be paid to the RSPCA.