RSPCA shutdown of Tasmanian puppy farm leaves hundreds of labradoodles in limbo
Labradoodles are being given a second chance of life with hundreds entering foster care after the RSPCA finally shut down one of Tasmania’s most prolific puppy farms. What’s next.
Tasmania
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Hundreds of labradoodles are looking for their “fur-ever” homes after the largest puppy farm in Tasmania was shut down on Friday.
An out-of-court agreement was signed between the RSPCA and Tasmanian Labradoodles, operated by husband-and-wife duo Elizabeth and Paul Bartlett, following a lengthy legal battle. As a result, 250 Labradoodles were placed into the care of the not-for-profit animal welfare organisation.
After the closure, Launceston’s Diane Jessup put her hand up to foster two-year-old labradoodle Oscar.
“Oscar needs lots of love, and I have lots of love to give,” Ms Jessup said.
“He came to us about 10 days ago, and he’s perfect. I can’t say anything other than he’s perfect for me and for our family.”
Ms Jessup said while she was initially concerned about how Oscar and the family’s Chihuahua-cross Millie, would get along, the two dogs were having a ball together.
“When I first saw Oscar, I saw his big eyebrows, and he didn’t have a name, and I said, ‘Oh, hello Oscar’, because he reminded me of Oscar the Grouch. However, his personality is completely the opposite,” she said.
“He’s the most beautiful dog I’ve ever met and gets along so well with our little dog, Millie.”
While most foster carers provide temporary care for an animal while the shelter finds a suitable long-term home for them, Oscar won’t be moving on from Ms Jessup and Millie.
“We are very happy to have registered for the RSPCA’s Safe Beds program and so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have Oscar in the short term,” she said.
“But I have asked the RSPCA if I can adopt Oscar forever. And they have very graciously said yes.”
Ms Jessup said the experience had been “amazing” and encouraged others to consider fostering a labradoodle.
“if you would like to have some joy in your life, if you’d like to have a beautiful dog to love you, who is good for your physical exercise and mental wellbeing, then get yourself a labradoodle,” she said.
RSPCA chief executive Andrea Dawkins described labradoodles as a friendly and loving breed with a gentle temperament, which makes them the perfect family pet.
“They’re a little bit smelly, they need a good groom, but they’re very happy, adaptable dogs,” she said.
“We’re asking Tasmanians to open their homes and hearts to these beautiful animals that deserve a second chance at a loving life.”
Ms Dawkins said the RSPCA wouldn’t be pursuing the more than 70 charges related to alleged overbreeding of dogs between April 2021 and February 2023.
“We were advised by our prosecutor that it would be advantageous to take it out of that process, adjourn that matter, and discuss with the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles how we might help them exit the business,” she said.
“Ultimately, getting those animals off that site was the most important thing.”
– STEPHANIE DALTON
Puppy farm shutdown leaves hundreds of labradoodles in limbo
INITIAL: The RSPCA has launched a desperate public appeal for homes and cash donations to save more than 250 Tasmanian labradoodles, after it finally shut down one of Tasmania’s most prolific puppy farms.
RSPCA chief executive Andrea Dawkins described the immediate and permanent closure of Epping Forest-based breeder Tasmanian Labradoodles as an historic win for animal welfare in Tasmania, but said all surrendered dogs would ultimately require permanent adoption.
Ms Dawkins also called for financial support to cover the vet checks, vaccinations, and temporary rehoming that she estimated would cost at least $1000 per dog, and called for legal reforms to ensure the situation was never repeated in Tasmania.
“We have been fighting to close Tasmania’s largest puppy farm for around three years, and we’ve finally succeeded,” Ms Dawkins said.
“Now, the RSPCA needs urgent financial help to provide veterinary care, foster homes and ultimately adoption for more than 250 labradoodles currently at the property.
“Many of these dogs have never been in contact with a human, they will need so much care before they are ready to be part of a loving family with the life they so deserve.
“This is unprecedented, it is expensive, and the RSPCA needs your urgent help.”
The RSPCA has set a fundraising goal of $300,000 to secure the dogs’ immediate health and accommodation requirements, and is also on the lookout for temporary foster homes.
Ms Dawkins described labradoodles as a friendly and loving breed, with a gentle temperament which made them perfect as a family pet.
“We’re asking Tasmanians to open their homes and hearts to these beautiful animals, that deserve a second chance at a loving life,” she said.
“Despite their rough start, they have an invincible love of humans.”
The RSPCA first charged the husband-and-wife owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles, Elizabeth Anne Bartlett, and Paul Alan Bartlett, with 70 counts of over-breeding in early 2023.
The legal case against the Bartlett, which related to conduct allegedly committed between April 2021 and February 2023, concluded with an out of court agreement that secured the puppy farm’s closure, and the surrender of all dogs.
The RSPCA called on the Tasmanian Government to make urgent reforms to the state’s Dog Regulations, to ensure the Tasmanian Labradoodles experience was never repeated.
“The reality is that the laws have failed all of us,” Ms Dawkins said.
“The existing law does nothing deter this from happening and nothing to penalise when it does.
“Under the existing laws, the Tasmanian Labradoodle owners could have faced a maximum penalty of just $273,000, which is just a cost of doing business for a puppy farm with an estimated revenue of around $2 million.
“Tasmania needs laws that ban puppy farms, and we need mandatory registration, standards and conduct for breeding established.”
— DUNCAN ABEY
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