RSPCA Tasmania looking to rehome 250 labradoodles from dog breeding business
There's been an outpouring of public support for RSPCA Tasmania as it searches for new homes for 250 labradoodles from the state's largest dog breeding business. Some owners who brought dogs from the business say their puppies developed serious health conditions, and they're backing calls to strengthen Tasmania’s dog protection laws.
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00:00Mary Walno bought Archie from Tasmanian Labradoodles three years ago.
00:06She didn't expect her puppy would soon develop expensive health issues.
00:11He's got one front leg that's very deformed and crooked which causes him pain and which
00:17will get very arthritic when he's a little bit older.
00:22He's got hip dysplasia in one of his hips.
00:25Nancy Bartlett also purchased a puppy from Tasmanian Labradoodles.
00:29She estimates the vet bills for nine-year-old Oscar have exceeded $200,000.
00:35Oscar has got hip dysplasia, IVDD, which is a spinal condition.
00:41He has inflammatory bowel disease where he's allergic to all animal protein.
00:46He started to have health issues the day that we got him.
00:51Last week, the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles signed an out-of-court agreement with the
00:56RSPCA to shut the facility and surrender more than 250 dogs.
01:02In return, the RSPCA dropped dozens of charges of overbreeding.
01:07The RSPCA says genetic conditions are common in dogs whose mother has been overbred, having
01:13many litters in quick succession.
01:16The RSPCA spent three years building its case against Tasmanian Labradoodles.
01:21It wants dog protection laws in Tasmania made tougher to meet community expectations
01:26and to include provisions covering the psychological impacts of cruelty to animals.
01:32We want to look at the jurisdictions around the country and New Zealand and see what the
01:36best dog regulations are and we want to make sure that our standards are as high or higher
01:42than anybody else's.
01:44The state government says a review of the animal welfare regulations is currently underway
01:49to ensure the legislation is fit for purpose and improves the welfare of all dogs.
01:55Tasmanian Labradoodles has been contacted for comment.