Former worker at Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera Valley raises concerns over conditions

A woman who worked for a short time at a 4.6 star Gold Coast pet facility has shared footage showing what she claims are poor conditions inside the centre. SEE THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO

A woman who worked for two days at a 4.6 star Gold Coast pet facility has taken to social media claiming there are poor conditions inside the centre.

The centre’s owners have strongly refuted the claims and described them as “misinformation”.

Gold Coaster Portia Hunter started her new job at Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera Valley on July 18. She says she quit after 12 hours, while the centre claims Ms Hunter’s employment was “terminated”.

Ms Hunter said she sent correspondence to the RSPCA about the Midtown Pet Centre around 2pm on Thursday after witnessing what she alleged were “disgusting” conditions.

“Please do not send your animals to Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera,” she said.

She claimed that it was “rundown” and “disgusting”.

“The dogs are locked in dirty cages for 23 hours a day,” she said.

“The place is covered in black mould.”

Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera has been subject to scrutiny. Photo: Portia Hunter

Responding to the claims, Midtown Pet Centre owner David Boydell said they were “deeply saddened by the misinformation”.

“(It is causing) distress to our team, many of whom are neurodivergent and find immense purpose and joy in their work with animals,” he said.

Mr Boydell said Ms Hunter’s employment was “terminated” on her second day of work after “exhibiting unacceptable conduct and failing to meet our behavioural standards”.

However, Ms Hunter maintained she “quit” after approaching management on the Monday and telling him she “couldn’t work in that environment”.

Mr Boydell claimed he assured her “improvement projects” were underway to fix the issues.

“Including a scheduled spring clean following the school holidays that she was meant to be an integral part of,” he said.

“Professional mould remediation, repainting, cat area upgrades and kennels floor restoration.

“These investments – some of which are already completed – were part of our ongoing strategy to maintain and elevate our standards.”

Mr Boydell said the “mould issue” was due to recent “extreme weather”.

“Like many businesses and homes across the Gold Coast, we’ve been impacted,” he said.

“We had already booked professional treatment and planned repainting with mould-resistant materials before this matter arose.”

Mr Boydell said, despite the concerns raised, the centre remained a “safe” environment.

“The suggestion that animals are kept in cages or mistreated is completely false,” he said.

“Dogs are housed in secure, comfortable enclosures with bricked walls, glass doors, bedding used by the RSPCA, and are walked and interacted with multiple times a day.

“Staff regularly go above and beyond to provide enrichment, including homemade meals, new toys, and individual attention.”

Mr Boydell even suggested most dogs were receiving better attention in the centre than they were at home.

Ms Hunter said she took several bleak photos inside the centre on July 18 and 21, the two days she worked at the business.

One photo appears to show two dogs squished into a grey enclosure.

Two dogs were seen squished into the dark grey cage at Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera. Photo: Portia Hunter

“Thought I was working for a business in beautiful Tallebudgera Valley and then the reality set in,” Ms Hunter said.

“It is an absolute shitshow.”

Ms Hunter also described what she says she did during her 10-hour shift from 7am to 5pm on July 18.

“The dogs are left from 5pm to 7am with no one on site,” she alleged.

“They are then walked around in a red mud loop covered in old mouldy dog poos for about 10 minutes.

“On Friday, they were walked in the rain and just put back to bed soaking wet, covered in mud.

“They are then taken for another walk around 2pm for 10 minutes and then let into a concrete ring for maybe an hour if that.

“So 23 hours in a cage. Disgraceful.”

Former Midtown Pet Centre worker Portia Hunter has shared photos from inside the facility. Photo: Portia Hunter

A couple who regularly boarded their dog at the Tallebudgera Valley facility said they were “devastated” when they saw the photos of its condition on a Facebook community group.

Their 15-year-old border collie cross cattle dog passed away on her second day at the resort while they were travelling overseas.

The couple’s friends picked her up to take her to the vet after the owner called to say she had quickly deteriorated to a point she was likely to pass. The vet confirmed that was the case and recommended she was put to sleep.

It is not suggested the conditions or treatment at Midtown played any role in the dog’s passing, only that the owners had concerns about how their dog spent her final hours.

“She was elderly so we didn’t lay any blame at Midtown’s door for her death, but we will be heartbroken and angry if we find out her final days were spent in conditions like these photos suggest,” they said.

Former Midtown Pet Centre worker Portia Hunter has shared photos from inside the facility. Photo: Portia Hunter

Former Midtown Pet Centre worker Portia Hunter has shared photos from inside the facility. Photo: Portia Hunter

“We hope she was not sad or scared in her last moments.

“We used the resort on at least four occasions and were always instructed to drop her off at an office at the entrance between specific hours, then she was led away (to the kennels).

“We never saw inside them.”

The RSPCA Queensland inspectorate said they had received a separate complaint about the business in 2022.

“The matter was investigated, appropriate action was taken, and the case was subsequently closed,” a RSPCA spokesperson said.

“The inspectorate is committed to protecting animal welfare and ensuring that all complaints received are investigated.”

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said they had not received any complaints about Midtown Pet Centre.

Former Midtown Pet Centre worker Portia Hunter has shared photos from inside the facility. Photo: Portia Hunter

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Originally published as Former worker at Midtown Pet Centre in Tallebudgera Valley raises concerns over conditions