22/03/2022
**WARNING - THIS PHOTO IS DISTRESSING**
Yes, it is a photo of dead dogs/pups, sitting on the floor in the clinic, in a garbage bag. Discarded 'rubbish'. Taken in 2020.
Most of you would have seen or heard about the Herald Sun article yesterday regarding the shelter and clinic that this page is about. We would like to take this opportunity to respond to this article as we were not given the opportunity to do so, even though the journalist contacted us prior to the article for a statement, she "went in a different direction and no longer wanted to investigate the past".
First, we would like to point out, that the shelter/clinic was sold to the new owners in October 2021. The previous owner stayed on, personally training the new owners in HER very lax processes and procedures - that she has been following for many years.
Within 3 months of them handing over their cash, the RSPCA and council suddenly started to visit - according to the article. Does anyone not wonder, why they chose NOT to visit after NUMEROUS staff over the past few years have made reports about the previous owners running of the shelter and clinic? Just last year, several reports were made, including by the ex-staff running this page. We have proof of the emails and phone calls made to both the RSPCA and Maroondah council. No one visited. We sent photos, videos, VERY extensive information and NOTHING was done! Why is that? Why are only the NEW owners being held accountable for cruelty and neglect? The previous owner had more than 10 years of cruelty under her belt.
We are not saying that the new owners should NOT be held accountable. What we are saying, is that this is not new. This is how it has been run for a long, long, long time. Dogs kept in crates, sometimes for months. Animals stacked on top of each other. We have shown you photographic proof of this, AT the clinic. Photos taken well before the shelter even went on the market. WHY are the new owners the only ones being investigated? Why did both the councils and the RSPCA turn a blind eye to the previous owners cruelty and neglect, numerous times!
The Macedon Ranges council did not even audit the shelter for YEARS! The head ranger would know full well how to access Sheltermate (the program that stores all of the shelter data from any animal that arrives into their care) and check records, as they worked for the company that made Sheltermate. This program CLEARLY would show the many years of animals coming and going and the constant non compliance. Some ex staff contacted Macedon Ranges shire in 2021 and were never called back.
Maroondah council were called numerous times about the clinic and decided to do nothing. NOW they are investigating? Why now? Why not last year, why not years prior when other ex staff contacted them?
The article states the previous owner is "saddened"??? She sold a non compliant shelter to inexperienced people and expected what exactly to happen? They continued with her processes, then she had the audacity to get people to report them to the same councils she managed to dodge for years. The cages at the clinic were broken and non compliant (size wise)for long term housing of animals, before she sold it. She was told this for many years, by many vets, nurses and other staff. The shelter cages were old, rusty, drafty and clearly non compliant - as NOW that council has decided it needs a refurbishment prior to renewing the permit!! The exact same cages, she used to house animals for YEARS!
Why exactly has the councils and RSPCA decided to investigate only now? Why did they ignore years of reports and allow years of neglect. They were even informed that untrained and unqualified staff were performing illegal euthanasia, vaccinations and microchipping - nothing was done. The medications room and safe was not locked, any staff or volunteer had access to highly dangerous and prescription only drugs. Still, no one has been held accountable.
We have been asked by numerous people the reason for this page and why things were not reported sooner. The fact of the matter is that numerous reports over the years were put through and nothing was done about it. A lot of us felt that by being there, we could improve conditions, clearly we were deluded or naive, or both. Things have come to light, that even high up, long term staff knew nothing about.
We think it is promising that the new owners seem to be happy to comply with directions from both councils and the RSPCA, but only time will tell. And actions speak louder than words.
For anyone who has not seen the article, please find it below.
