RSPCA video reveals horrific conditions found at Storybook Farm property

Dogs unable to walk. Birds without feathers. Excrement littering the floors. RSPCA officers were moved to tears by the scene which confronted them when they raided Storybook Farm. WARNING: DISTRESSING VIDEO

BEHIND the facade of an animal sanctuary, a place for disabled and injured pets to call home or to be rehabilitated, was a house where some of the worst neglect seasoned vets have ever seen occurred.

For years, initially out of their Canungra farm, before moving to north Brisbane, Storybook Farm Sacred Animal Garden Rescue portrayed themselves on social media as the last hope for these animals, as experts in dealing with Dachshunds stricken with IVDD (a spinal injury) and a home for pets who required a high need of care.

But, when the curtain fell on Wednesday afternoon, as the RSPCA raided their north Brisbane property, the neglect of these animals became painfully apparent.

The conditions and injuries pushed seasoned vets to tears and shocked the RSPCAs Chief Inspector.

A dog unable to hold up its hind legs drags itself along the floor in a scene from the horrific footage. Picture: RSPCA

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And they are horrific, a video released by the RSPCA showing animals with terrible injuries the absolute squalor they were living in, faeces and urine everywhere, locked behind cages, left in there for God knows how long.

The animals appear terrified, they are filthy, malnourished, many limping terribly, it’s truly heartbreaking footage.

Two animals – Barry the dalmatian and a horse – have been euthanised by the RSPCA due to their horrific injuries and poor health. Nothing could be done to save them, while 36 other animals were seized and are undergoing health checks at the RSPCA’s Wacol centre.

A bird lacking most of its feathers seen in video footage shot by RSPCA officers inside the Storybook Farm property.

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It’s understood the RSPCA was tipped off by a concerned member of the public and initially raided a property connected with the group last week, seizing three horses, one of which had to be put down, before raiding the main farm on Wednesday.

RSPCA Queensland Chief Inspector Daniel Young said they had interviewed Storybook Farm owner, Lisa-Jayne Cameron.

Ms Cameron has not returned The Bulletin’s messages for comment about the case.

“It’s an ongoing investigation … so I can’t really discuss the conversations we’ve had with her,” Mr Young said.

“To date, we’ve been offered no reason, or explanation to why these animals are in that condition.”

Frightened dogs peer out from filthy cages in the horrific video footage.

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Insp Young said the fact they sold themselves as a sanctuary for animals made it one of the worst cases he’d seen.

“It wasn’t just the living conditions, it was also some of the injuries that these animals were carrying at the time were pretty distressing,” Insp Young said.

“It’s a very serious case, but I guess the difference here is, this isn’t the typical backyard operation … it’s an actual rescue group that is a sanctuary for animals.

“Looking at it from that perspective it’s certainly up there with some of the worst cases, given it was meant to be providing a place of care.”

Barry the dalmatian had to be put down due to the severity of his injuries. Picture: RSPCA.

Insp Young said seasoned veterinary staff were brought to tears when they were forced to put Barry down.

“That’s probably the most heartbreaking thing about the day, we had some pretty hardened veterinary staff that were moved to tears.

“The pain that, that dog (Barry) would have been enduring, and to think we had to intervene to get it into a place of care, only to be the ones responsible for humanely euthanising it, is a pretty tough gig for those guys to deal with.

“That’s not what we’re about, we want to rescue and rehome these animals wherever possible, but that wasn’t possible for poor Barry.

“It’s really early days (to know what will happen to the other animals), probably too early to give a prognosis for all of them, it will be a long road to recovery and they are in the best possible hands and we’ve got a team working around the clock to look after them.”

Puppies living in filth at the Storybook Farm property in a scene from the video footage.

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The RSPCA has been inundated with complaints from people who donated money to the group and encouraged people to contact police.

“RSPCA do not have powers to investigate these kinds of issues,” RSPCA Queensland CFO Nick Crethar said.

“They need to be referred to police or the appropriate government department.”

Amy Robinson runs a group dedicated to Dachshunds and said they stopped fundraising for Storybook Farm a few years ago after suspecting something wasn’t right.

“I'm shocked,” Ms Robinson said.

Faeces is seen littering the floor of the property in video footage released by the RSPCA.

“I attended her property several years ago, dropping off donations. When I was there I was refused access to see any of the animals, we were kept in the carport, my kids even refused access to a toilet.”

Storybook Farm has not returned Bulletin calls for comment.

If you would like to foster one of the animals rescued from Storybook Farm, please contact [e-mail] or 3426 9997 for an information pack and expression of interest form.