Tasmanian Labradoodles: Parties working on plea deal
RSPCA Tasmania and the lawyer representing a puppy breeding operation charged with breeding their bitches too often across the cycle are attempting to avoid a lengthy hearing, a court has heard.
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RSPCA Tasmania and the lawyer representing a puppy breeding operation charged with breeding their bitches too often across their cycles are attempting to avoid a lengthy hearing by hammering out a plea deal, a court has heard.
Epping Forest pair Elizabeth Anne Bartlett, 66, and Paul Alan Bartlett, 65, and their company Tasmanian Labradoodles Pty Ltd, which operates from an address on the Midlands Hwy, previously pleaded not guilty to 70 counts of breaching section 19 of the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Regulations 2016.
RSPCA Tasmania alleges Tasmanian Labradoodle bitches were bred every breeding cycle – six months – where the regulations stipulate bitches can only be bred twice every 18 months.
The maximum fine for each of the charges is $1,950 (10 penalty units) – in other words, a total of $273,000 if the defendants are convicted on all 70 charges.
Defence lawyer Grant Tucker told Launceston Magistrates Court on Thursday he and RSPCA prosecutor Malcolm Caulfield were both requesting an adjournment to January 19, 2024, for a further mention of the charges.
“There was a proposal put to resolve all matters on Wednesday evening by Mr Caulfield. It’s going to require a great deal of discussion,” Mr Tucker said.
“But the parties are going down that track. We’re hoping to have it resolved in the next couple of weeks.”
The court heard that both parties were “trying to avoid a hearing”.
Tasmanian Labradoodles is one of the state’s largest, if not the largest, dog breeders. In August, it had more than 200 dogs advertised for sale.
Puppy breeders plead not guilty to 70 animal welfare breaches
August 30: The husband-and-wife duo behind a prolific Tasmanian dog breeding company charged with 70 counts of overbreeding the bitches in their care have both pleaded not guilty across all charges.
Epping Forest pair Elizabeth Anne Bartlett, 66, and Paul Alan Bartlett, 65, and their company Tasmanian Labradoodles Pty Ltd, which is operated from an address on the Midlands Hwy, appeared in Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Each is charged with 70 counts of breaching section 19 of the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Regulations 2016.
The section holds that a person “with care or charge of a bitch must ensure that the bitch does not have more than (two) litters in any 18-month period”.
According to documents filed with the court, RSPCA Tasmania alleges Tasmanian Labradoodles were bred as much as every six months – or every breeding cycle.
The charges will return to court on November 9.
The maximum fine for each of the charges is $1,950 (10 penalty units) – in other words, a total of $273,000 if the defendants are each convicted on all 70 charges.
In a statement released earlier this year by their lawyer Grant Tucker, the defendants said, “We have been breeding labradoodles for 20 years and have been feeding our dogs a 100 per cent raw diet, which meets their nutritional needs.”
“This way, we can mate them on every cycle,” they said.
Tasmanian Labradoodles, one of the state’s largest, if not the largest, dog breeders, currently has 213 puppies for sale via its website.
Speaking generally about the puppy breeding industry, RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Jan Davis said the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp rise in the demand for companion animals.
“People looking for puppies should satisfy themselves that both the puppies and their mothers have been properly looked after,” she said.
“They should not be buying from an unregistered breeder, or from the internet or social media. Go and have a look to make sure the conditions where the dogs are kept are good, and that all the dogs are happy and healthy.”
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