Last month, Baw Baw Shire Council successfully prosecuted a 31-year-old woman for operating an unregistered domestic animal shelter and rescue business in Allambee Reserve.
The main charges related to the keeping of an excessive number of cats and dogs at a farm property without being appropriately registered.
The prosecution resulted after several inspections and the execution of a search warrant at the farm by Council's Animal Management Officers. The business was being run as an unregistered shelter without appropriate registrations, permits or code of practices being followed.
The accused plead guilty to eight charges, which were a consolidation of 56 charges lodged. These charges related to:
The keeping of 46 unregistered cats and dogs
The failure to renew registration of 5 dogs and cats
Conducting an unregistered domestic animal business
Keeping animals in an unsatisfactory manner
Failing to keep the area where animals were kept free of rubbish etc. that may attract rats and vermin
Unsightly land for animal keeping in breach of the Baw Baw Planning Scheme.
Penalties were imposed by the Magistrate at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court, which included a period of good behaviour for five years, as well as a $5,000 fee to the Court Fund and other costs to the amount of $213.
The rescue is no longer keeping animals at the farm.
Council's Animal Management and Community Compliance Officers continue to take a strict approach towards animal welfare and will always ensure animal rescue groups, breeders and local business owners are doing the right thing.
