The RSPCA has seized 86 dogs from an alleged puppy farm in Adelaide’s north, based on a property owned by an offender currently on a good behaviour bond.
Key points:
- More than 80 dogs, along with rabbits and guinea pigs, have been seized from a South Australian property
- The RSPCA says the owner of the property has previously been charged with numerous animal cruelty offences
- No charges have yet been laid in response to this seizure
Inspectors attended the property about 9.30am on Tuesday, where they seized dogs including border collies, as well as three rabbits and two guinea pigs.
The property is registered as being owned by Kerrie Marie Fitzpatrick.
The RSPCA has alleged it is the same woman who was found with more than 300 dogs on her Murray Mallee property in 2018.
The ABC reported in August this year that Ms Fitzpatrick was fined $5,000 and sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended on a $500 good behaviour bond, after she was found guilty of 16 animal cruelty offences.
The 48-year-old was found to have more than 300 animals at her Parrakie property in South Australia’s Murray Mallee, and since 2017 was prohibited from keeping any dogs in Victoria for 20 years.
She had been fined a total of $85,000 for prior breaches.
A previous judgement detailed how some dogs appeared to have behavioural issues and were suffering from anxiety disorders, and a five-week-old pup was found “possibly born with no eyes”, while several dogs had other health conditions.
The court also previously heard the inspector found a large shed where “there was no water in the pens, nowhere clean for the dogs to stand” and “dogs sitting in empty containers in order to get off the mesh”.
Ms Fitzpatrick has been prohibited to have more than two dogs, four rabbits and seven budgerigars in her care.
RSPCA South Australia’s Chief Inspector Andrew Baker said the RSPCA would now be reviewing the latest evidence.
“Fitzpatrick has been on our radar for some time,” Mr Baker said.
“We will be alleging that she is the sole owner of the property and that the dogs were in her custody, which puts her in breach of her court order.”
Charges are yet to be laid.