The RSPCA is examining whether the former owners of Tasmania's largest puppy farm can be criminally prosecuted following an ABC report that aired concerns from former workers on the treatment of puppies and dogs. The animal welfare organisation has backflipped on pursuing possible prosecution against the former workers who spoke to the ABC, instead thanking them for their efforts. Since the puppy farm's closure, three more inspectors have been appointed by the RSPCA to ensure this doesn't happen again.
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00:00Connor, whose name has been changed, was 19 when he started working at Tasmanian Labradoodles.
00:09The first time he was asked to put a live puppy in the freezer still haunts him.
00:15The first time I remember it was a puppy that was born with its internals coming out of
00:22its body and I rang them straight away saying what do I do here and they told me to put
00:30it in the freezer.
00:32He's just one of several former workers who've spoken to the ABC about what they saw and
00:38were asked to do while working at the puppy farm.
00:41Others say they saw dogs being hit with PVC pipe, shaken to the point of being stunned
00:47so photos could be taken, over breeding, dogs with sores on their bodies and kept in
00:53small crates for hours.
00:57From my perspective I would like to thank the people who came forward Jess, I think
01:00it's really important that it's acknowledged that the stress that they put themselves through
01:07it's acknowledged by me and it has underpinned these next steps so it was certainly not for
01:11nothing.
01:13The RSPCA had initially said it was going to investigate prosecuting the former workers
01:19but has since backtracked.
01:21An independent review has instead recommended looking into if the former owners Paul and
01:27Elizabeth Bartlett can be charged.
01:30The review recommended that there were new lines of inquiry for us to take in prosecuting
01:35the Bartlett's for animal welfare breaches.
01:39The RSPCA first brought 70 charges of overbreeding against the former owners in early 2023 but
01:46the charges were dropped in July in exchange for the facility closing and the surrender
01:51of all 239 dogs.
01:54Since the puppy farm's closure the RSPCA says it's appointed three new inspectors to help
02:00with investigations.
02:01The organisation also says it's taken several steps to strengthen its internal processes
02:07to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.
02:10The Bartlett's have been contacted for comment.