[ad_1]
Police are investigating an incident in Northland over the weekend after a property was invaded by animal rescue workers following continued concerns about the welfare of more than 90 dogs.
Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly
The group was filmed entering the Dargaville farm, where they say a puppy mill has been operating animals living in poor condition for some time.
They were concerned about the welfare of animals and the SPCA about selling puppies from the breeder on various online listings.
But while six dogs have since been raised, the group now disagrees with the SPCA. The SPCA says the remaining dogs are in good health, but the group maintains that some dogs on the property were “mangled and terrified.”
Rescuers stormed the property over the weekend and shared images of what they said were distressed and terrified dogs on social media.
Dargaville resident Nicole said she first heard about the breeder in 2010 and has been watching the situation for the past decade.
“I actually asked about one of their listings that they had on Trade Me, I never knew anything and from there people were sending me these accounts and they had listings every couple of months, so I basically started monitoring it.”
After worrying about the dogs’ health, he reported the breeder to animal control, which alerted the SPCA.
“Then I have friends who bought these people, one person actually had to have their dog’s leg amputated because he ended up getting cancer, but he was only 12 months old.
“You still have severe anxiety because of what happened during those first eight weeks of his life, and now, two and a half years later, the dog is still mentally ill.”
All animal owners are subject to the Animal Welfare Act, which gives the SPCA authority to take enforcement action when it believes there may be an incidence of animal cruelty.
SPCA Inspection General Manager Tracy Phillips confirmed that inspectors visited the property at the center of the incident.
“We have reviewed the property and every dog on the property and you know that our inspector has done a very good job with the owners to get the correct results from the animals.”
However, Phillips declined to comment on what plans are in place to achieve these results.
Nicole said that animal rescue workers, who visited unannounced after the SPCA visit, found a mix of different dogs on the property, including Jack Russells, poodles, golden retrievers and Labradors.
On Saturday, six of the more than 90 dogs on the property were turned in and turned over to the Bay of Islands Animal Rescue.
Their president, Summer Johnson, said they were in a terrible emotional state.
“The mental stability of these dogs, they are ruined, they are broken, I have done nothing but cry, they are so withdrawn and so scared of humans, it’s just incredible.”
Living conditions at the property were concerning, he said.
“It was absolutely horrible as soon as we pulled into the driveway through the door and they just barked and the chains jingled and the cages jingled.”
In video illegally taken Saturday, the property owner is seen in an altercation involving a gun with a group of people who appeared to have entered her property illegally to document the alleged animal abuse.
Sergeant Major Rob Huys said Northland Police attended the incident and their investigation was ongoing.
The owner of the property in question has not responded to multiple requests for comment from RNZ.
