Vegan activist Michayla Rogers fined after dogs, cats found in poo-filled cages at Strong Hearts Sanctuary farm, Gippsland

The owner of a rescue shelter who claims to dedicate her life to saving animals has copped a $5000 fine after dozens of cats and dogs were found in filthy cages, some without water.

Michayla Rogers has copped a $5000 fine after animals were found to be housed in shocking conditions at her rescue shelter.

A vegan activist who claims to dedicate her life to saving animals has been caught keeping dozens of cats and dogs in cages laden with faeces — and some without clean drinking water.

Images obtained by the Herald Sun show the shocking and filthy rat-infested conditions animals were housed in at Michayla Rogers’ Strong Hearts Sanctuary farm in Gippsland.

Baw Baw Shire Council officers were taken aback by the “offensive” stench when they raided the Alambee Reserve rural property and found 51 animals on April 24 last year.

They reported cat litter trays were overflowing with faeces and dog poo was smeared on walls and carpeted areas within buildings and animal crates.

Cats and dogs were found living in horrific conditions at the rescue shelter.

Officers reported cat litter trays were overflowing with faeces and dog poo was smeared on walls.

Rubbish, including syringes and empty cans of cat food, were strewn around the premises.

Clean drinking water was not provided for some animals and there was rubbish, including syringes and empty cans of cat food, strewn around.

Rogers, 30, fronted Latrobe Magistrates Court last month where she pleaded guilty to keeping animals in an unsatisfactory manner, and conducting a domestic animal business on premises which were not registered for that purpose.

She also admitted failing to register or renew the registrations of dozens of cats and dogs, and failing to ensure the land surrounding the place where animals were kept was free from rubbish that could attract or harbour rats or vermin.

Michayla Rogers pleaded guilty to keeping animals in an unsatisfactory manner.

The prosecution pushed for her to be banned from working with animals for five years.

“I am unconvinced the accused in this matter is a fit and proper person to be managing a domestic animal business,” the council prosecutor said.

Her lawyer Miceal Ambrose argued such a prohibition would be “catastrophic” to her organisation.

“It would be difficult for them to continue,” he said.

“She is the main driver of the organisation. It’s her passion that has driven its success.

“My client’s purpose is to look after animals.”

Animals were kept in horrific conditions at the shelter in Gippsland.

He refuted suggestions from the council the animal rescue sanctuary was a profitable business, as opposed to a charity, saying they rely on government grants and donations from the public to survive.

The shire’s prosecutor referred to Strong Hearts’ website where 49 dogs and 116 cats were for sale, ranging in price from $400 to $2000.

“If we take the minimum, that’s $1.5 million exchanging hands,” he said.

Mr Ambrose said Rogers was experiencing “personal health” issues at the time, combined with a lack of volunteers and an influx of animals over the Easter long weekend.

Magistrate Cynthia Lynch spared Rogers a conviction, but fined her $5000, and placed her on a five-year good behaviour bond.

“Things had got on top of her and this is not how she had usually run the property,” Ms Lynch said.

“There’s no allegations of animal cruelty to any of the animals at the property.”

Rogers was allegedly experiencing ‘personal health’ issues at the time of the raid.

The court heard Rogers no longer operates the Gippsland shelter, but continues to run other animal rescue centres in East Melbourne and Preston where the sole focus is to save animals that are on euthanasia lists from pounds.

Her court appearance comes as insiders told the Herald Sun of their concerns about Rogers being allowed to continue to work with animals, and their suspicions the charity is “more of a profitable scam”.

Former volunteers and animal foster carers claimed misbehaving puppies were put down rather than rehabilitated, and a nine-month old pooch was euthanased after it was deemed too costly to fix its “crook bag leg”.

One source revealed how a dead cat was left to rot on the shelf and become maggot-infested.

Another alleged Rogers did “the big, sad social media posts asking for donations” for a litter of puppies, but none of the money went to those puppies.

The source also alleged Strong Hearts wouldn’t pass on their heavily-discounted vet bills to adopters, instead pocketing the profits.

Rogers did not return Herald Sun requests for comment.