MORE disturbing allegations about animal cruelty published in national media at the weekend are expected to be among evidence presented when a parliamentary inquiry into puppy farms sits in Armidale next month.
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Several conflicting stories about the state of a number of northern puppy farms and breeding properties will be aired when the inquiry sits in Armidale on July 14.
Already in the past few months, farms at Inverell, Uralla, Guyra and Nullamanna have been named as virtual puppy factories, where pets are being churned out in deplorable conditions.
The chair of the inquiry, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, says there’s been an unprecedented number of submissions received by the state Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Companion Animal Breeding Practices in NSW.
It will look at more than 350 written submissions and 2200 items of correspondence.
The latest shock stories about puppy farm cruelty emerged at the weekend when Fairfax Media in Sydney reported that animals bred in alleged New England puppy factories were being sent to as far away as Perth to be sold in pet shops.
The Leader understands that some claims made in the article are under dispute and could be under investigation.
A local animal activist who had previously attended the property said there were questions over the state of the alleged Uralla puppy factory, as described in the article.
Mr Marshall said there were strong feelings surrounding the issue of puppy factories and they were considering the submissions and preparing the details, including witness lists, for the public hearings.
The public hearing visit to Armidale would include a site visit to an alleged puppy factory.
Dogs Without Borders’ Judy Scrivener has uncovered numerous puppy factories in the Northern Tablelands and said she would attend the inquiry in Armidale.
After 12 months of searching, Dogs Without Borders Australia discovered the location of the puppy farm near Nullamanna in recent months and a full RSPCA report is pending.
Mrs Scrivener said she was pleased a public hearing would be held in Armidale, as there had been so many puppy farms discovered in the region.
She said stronger legislation and the removal of some of the discretionary areas was needed.
“My belief is all the relevant agencies in this area need to do a co-ordinated approach, otherwise you’re going one step forward with one and one step backward with another,” she said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the powers-that-be to recognise the people of NSW have had enough of the horror, the cruelty and the unscrupulous actions of these puppy farmers.”
Another alleged factory was investigated at Wandsworth last year. It is owned by breeder Jennifer Frazer, who had faced fines and charges only 10 months prior.
She told The Leader she denied any cruelty allegations and said any fresh allegations against her were false.