Dogs are suffering in this Longwood puppy
factory in the Strathbogie Shire Council. The owner
is registered by the Council and is a registered breeder with
Dogs Victoria. She sells her dogs online, and after seeing
the poor conditions they suffer it really shows how out of
control the cruel business of farming puppies really is.
Please watch the below video footage
from ALV's recent investigation at this factor.
Note: Healey's Puppy Factory is the first place featured on
this video between 00:28 - 1:07 'November 2010, Central Victoria'.
Three dogs were saved from Healey's Hellhole the day
ALV visited. 1) A chihuahua male pup who was around
14 weeks old and only weighed 800 grams, the puppy farmer
brought him out from a room in the back and said she was "waiting
for him to die". The pup was taken to the Melbourne
University Vet Clinic for immediate expert care. He
was underweight and had hydrocephalus and vertebral scoliosis,
both of which are being treated. Most importantly, for
his immediate survival, and to help this treatment he is gaining
weight with the loving care and devoted attention of his new
family.
2) Another chihuahua, a female around
11 months old, was taken from one of the 'cots' inside the
house. Her eyes weren't aligned correctly for breeding
so she was being sold at a 'discount'. This little girl
can only walk in small squares... the size of the cot that
was her whole life. She doesn't even know how to go
down a small step and has to be carried.
3) The third dog is a two and a half year old
female who has a misaligned jaw and wasn't suitable for breeding
so was put in one of the outside runs and forgotten.
The vet commented that this dog looked very typical of dogs
kept continually on concrete runs as both her back paws had
hardly any nails left, while her front claws needed to be
clipped. The dogs filmed in the outside runs (over 50) were
jumping up continually with their front claws against the
wire of the pens and their back two paws on the concrete.
The vet noticed her skin was in poor condition and she suspected
this was due to a bad diet without wet food. When she was
first offered a bone she had no idea what it was.
None of the dogs understand affection, and are severely traumatised
The Suffering Is Ongoing!
ALV ironically heard from another member of the public shortly
after appealing to the Strathbogie Council to investigate
this puppy factory. This person had also complained to the
Council over a year ago with photographs and video
footage evidence. Nothing was done to help the dogs.
This woman spent thousands of dollars buying dogs in an 'effort
to save them' and also took in a 300 gram puppy that the owner
of the property had in a cardboard box, and was also 'waiting
for him to die'.
Please HELP These Dogs!
Email the Stathbogie Council Mayor asking that the Healey
Puppy Factory in Longwood be closed down. Ask for a reply
and an assurance that something will be done to help these
dogs.
Can you please investigate a puppy breeding business in your
shire that we believe is operating outside the mandatory Code
of Practice for Breeding and Rearing Establishments. We
are greatly concerned for the welfare of the dogs on the premises
especially concerning: overcrowding, lack of exercise and
socialisation and lack of proper veterinary attention.
The property is run by Mrs Heather Healey and is located in Carters
Lane, Longwood.
I was contacted by someone who visited the property after
answering an ad on the internet regarding chihuahuas for sale.
She was shocked to find numerous dogs (30 to 40) confined
in small 'cot' type pens inside a small room in the house.
She said the smell was overwhelming and only two cots had
overturned food or water bowls, some had up to 6 dogs crowded
together frantically jumping up and down. She was told
the dogs were not taken out of the cots for daily exercise
(if at all). There were also numerous dogs in outdoor runs/pens
who she was told were also never exercised or taken out of
the concrete pens.
One very ill small puppy was given to this person as she said
she knew a vet who could possibly treat him. The owner had
failed to get veterinary assistance for this animal, who is
now being extensively treated. She estimated there to
be around 90 dogs on the property. We believe this person
may be registered with your Council but are not sure.
Can you please confirm if she is registered and investigate
the following violations to the Code of Practice for Breeding
and Rearing Establishments (Mandatory)
2.2 Veterinarian
Each establishment must have a written agreement with sufficient veterinarians to be on call for the treatment of animals other than first aid and for humane euthanasia where an overdose of barbiturate is used.
We would like it confirmed that there is a written agreement with a vet, who the vet is and why the 14 week old pup who was in very poor condition wasn't receiving vet care.
Section 3.1
Food and water containers must be non spillable and of a design that can be easily cleaned and does not cause injury to the animals.
There did not appear to be water available in the cots and only saw one upturned food bowl. There doesn't appear to be anything in place to ensure these dogs have regular access to drinking water.
3.5 Exercise Dogs housed in pens of the minimum recommended size must be exercised. Dogs in enclosures larger than twenty square metres do not normally require additional exercise however it is important that animals are socialised and provided with an environmental enrichment program. Care must be taken to ensure that dogs being exercised are not in danger of attack or other injury.
We do not believe that the dogs kept on this property are given any exercise, and in the case of those in the tiny cots indoors fear they never leave that small space. Dogs in the outside runs were not walked and/or let out. The breeder said she does not take them out for exercise as the other dogs then bark too much. There was no 'environmental enrichment program for any of these dogs.
3.8 Minimum Pen Sizes
(a) Dogs (Table 1)
Under no circumstances can more than two dogs be housed in the one pen.
The dogs confined in the very small cots indoors, as well as the dogs kept outside in runs contained up to 4-5-6 dogs per pen.
I have attached some photos taken inside the residence to show you these small enclosures and a photo of the pup taken to the vet we are also in possession of some video footage taken during this visit. Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your reply.
