The RSPCA will NOT prosecute the owners of a Port Stephens boarding kennel, after a greyhound called Baron was found dead in their care over Christmas.
A post-mortem carried out by the welfare group has determined Baron likely died from a bacterial infection, rather than heatstroke.
The RSPCA says the examination was unable to provide conclusive evidence for a prosecution.
Baron’s sudden death has sparked calls for reforms in the industry.
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Although justice for Baron will never be seen by the courts due to the inconclusive findings of his multiple autopsy’s and vet inspections, I am pleased to hear the RSPCA will be prosecuting the owners of Janes Pet Resort in matters of animal cruelty, including the death of the beagle (2 dogs dead at this facility in 3 days) and the treatment of the Staffordshire terrier. (Extract oh Statement from RSPCA attached).
Many other people including Kat Rose, Peter B, Jessica Nathan, Anita Douglass, Zoe Douglas, Terry Anderson, Lauren Davies, Jaidyn Cockroft, and many many more, I thank you for coming forward publicly with your own stories and experiences around the state of your collected pets from this facility (many taken to the vets for treatment). Standing up is never easy.
I am thankful for people such as Aileen Payne who contacted me with eye witness accounts of the facility moving at least 40 dogs just prior to the RSPCA arrival- information ignored by the RSPCA but incredibly valuable to me.
I am thankful for those who sent me the non compliant DA and the council communications highlighting that this facility who was licensed to hold 40 dogs yet allegedly had 120 dogs on site on Dec 23 2016. The industry term is “dog stacking”
I am thankful to animal welfare organisations such as WARN who supported me and provided valuable assistance and information throughout the process.
I am thankful for the ex staff member bravely coming forward with information around the alleged food quality (maggot infested chicken that is regularly fed to the animals in the care of this facility).
I am thankful to MP Mark Pearson for his ongoing support and passion for animal welfare.
I am thankful to MP Kate Washington and MP Mark Pearson for attending the PIAA forum on Feb 2 where I first publicly addressed many of the issues around the RSPCA case management of Baron that is now out in the open.
I am thankful for the reporting media who have opened a curtain that has protected the dark side of the pet industry and associated business and charities for so long. In a world where people see devastation every time they open a paper and turn on the news I am so pleased that the audience “connected” with our fight for animal welfare.
I am thankful to Jayne Svetanoski who has tirelessly fought a broken animal welfare system and who has been an absolute rock of support to me and countless others experiencing our joint nightmare.
I am thankful to John Pajot and Annie’s owners who stood with me in their personal grief at the PIAA Forum to say to the Pet Industry of Australia and the RSPCA that “this is not ok”.
I am thankful to all the facility owners who continue to stand with me in the much needed reform of their industry.
I am thankful to the reporting media who ensured that “just a dead greyhound” would remain regularly in the news both television, print and radio.
I am thank you for the public support of the PIAA.
Most of all I am thankful to the thousands of people all over this country who have contacted me to offer their sympathy, support and assistance.
On the late afternoon on Dec 28 Baron was dead. Charlotte our other dog collapsed. The facility closed rank and wouldn’t engage with us once we collected Baron and alerted them to Charlotte’s condition.
We were terrified for what was happening behind the closed doors. What can we do?
We alerted the media and the authorities, we needed to make as much noise as possible to get someone, anyone, to check on the animals, to make sure they were ok. My original post has been shared thousands of times. Thank you for hearing me.
After my story broke another dog found dead, many others taken for treatment. This was the moment I wanted to prevent. This was the moment I failed the animals I left behind.
I have learnt so much about the industry and the laws that are almost impossible to enforce. I’ve learnt about the barriers, the excuses and the political position of industry bodies including the RSPCA that provide the general public a blanket of artificial animal welfare security.
I have been called a liar, a tree hugger, an activist, and a vegan. I am none of these things.
I have been called hysterical, irrational and crazy. Yet I have and continue to conduct myself as logical and reasonable as I can in what is an unreasonable and emotion fuelled topic.
So here we are, 3 months on, the curtain that protected this industry has been opened and people are asking questions.
Thank you
Nathan
l am pleased that Janes Pet Resort are being prosecuted for the death of the beagle and the issues with the Staffordshire terrier. We are disappointed that the three inspecting vets could not agree on the cause of death of Baron siting “inconclusive” which means we are unable to take this further. We are thankful to the many people that have come out publicly that collected their sick animals from the facility in the days of my story breaking. It’s dissapointing that the media and the RSPCA did not engage these people for information. The industry is broken yet profitable- this is why it is incredibly difficult to get action. Companion animal regulation must be implemented to protect animals in the care of facilities.