Stephanie Laurens: Alpha Female K9 Academy boss faces dog cruelty charges
A ‘dog doctor’ who says she can treat the canine mind has been accused of using illegal pronged collars to cause pain to animals.
South East
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A self-styled canine psychologist and advanced animal trainer has been charged with cruelty to animals involving the alleged use of illegal pronged collars.
Stephanie Laurens, who runs the Alpha Female K9 Academy, has been hit with three counts after an RSPCA investigation in 2019.
The Noble Park 28-year-old pleaded not guilty at a mention hearing held at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The RSPCA allege between August 18 and October 24 in 2019 Ms Laurens was in charge or control of dogs in contravention of an earlier court order.
Between the same dates she is also alleged to have used a pronged collar on an animal and subjected cruelty to animals causing unnecessary pain and suffering.
No details of the alleged circumstances, other than the nature of the charges, were read out in court.
Pronged collars, made of metal and designed to tighten around a dog’s neck whenever pressure was applied, are illegal in Victoria.
RSPCA prosecutor Graham Hambridge said he would present to court the testimony of four witnesses, including a vet and an RSPCA officer, and a USB stick with 38 videos of Ms Lauren’s alleged illegal behaviour.
Ms Laurens represented herself, saying she did not want a lawyer and was pleading not guilty.
She said she and her boyfriend would be the only witnesses she would be calling in her defence.
On her website, Ms Laurens claims to hold a “PHD degree in Canine Psychology and Behaviour Management”.
It also states her “Alpha Female K9 Academy is a leading choice for dog training, helping to correct bad behaviours and reinforce good ones” and she is an “experienced dog psychologist and advanced dog trainer who can help you achieve a calm and well-behaved dog”.
And on her LinkedIn profile she posts copies of what she says are her qualification certificates from the “Alpha Female K9 University”.
Magistrate Greg Connellan adjourned the case for a one-day contested hearing on August 27.
