Conditions at Tasmanian Labradoodles detailed in vet report years before breeder was shut down
Tasmanian Labradoodles was shut down in July this year and surrendered 239 dogs and puppies. (Supplied: RSPCA)
In short:
Documents obtained by the ABC have revealed the conditions dogs and puppies were kept in at the now-closed dog breeder, Tasmanian Labradoodles.
A vet's report says the dogs were severely underweight, had no bedding, were overbred, and their fur was so matted they couldn't see.
What's next?
The RSPCA says it tried to shut down the dog breeder for years and is now calling for stronger animal welfare legislation to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Dogs at Tasmanian Labradoodles were severely underweight, overbred, many had no shelter or official health records, and their fur was so matted they couldn't see, documents obtained by the ABC reveal.
The dog breeding facility in Tasmania's north was shut down by the RSPCA in July this year after the owners signed an out-of-court agreement, which included the immediate and permanent closure of the facility and the surrender of 239 dogs.
The owners, Elizabeth Anne Bartlett and her husband Paul Bartlett, have been contacted for comment by the ABC.
The RSPCA first brought 70 charges for overbreeding against Tasmanian Labradoodles owners Elizabeth and Paul (pictured) Bartlett in early 2023. (Facebook: Tasmanian Labradoodles)
Under right to information laws, the ABC has obtained a copy of a veterinary report dated November 6, 2020, following an inspection of the property.
It states the vet who was employed at the time by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) — now known as NRE Tasmania — was asked to be an "independent observer" of the facility during a visit led by the RSPCA.
The vet labelled some of conditions they saw in 2020 as "animal cruelty", but it still took more than three years before the facility was shut down.
Dogs with extensive fur hindering sight kept near electric fences, report says
The report said the vet was concerned by a number of things during their visit to the property, including how the dogs were housed at night, their lack of medical care and health records, and the dogs' grooming.
"I have concerns relating to the physical and behavioural health and overall welfare of dogs at the facility," the report said.
"The long-term accommodation for breeding pairs was within yards fitted with electrified fencing.
"Numerous dogs within the electrified enclosures had facial fur that was so extensive and overgrown that it appeared to completely cover their eyes.
"Electric shocks are painful and likely to produce fear … in my professional opinion, the dogs with extensive facial fur would have had such vision impairment that I believe they would have significant difficulty or it may even be impossible for them to see the fencing and thus avoid the consequential contact and electrical shock.
"I believe the application of physical electrified fencing with effectively vision-impaired domesticated dogs constitutes animal cruelty."
Some of the rescued labradoodles had heavily matted hair when they were surrendered. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
Inspection finds many dogs with extensive health issues
At least three retired or semi-retired dogs were examined during the visit and the report said all were found to need further veterinary assessment.
"Staff were aware of their poor condition. No explanation was volunteered as to why the dogs' condition had not been addressed," the report said.
Some of the dogs which were put up for sale on Tasmanian Labradoodles website. (Tasmanian Labradoodles)
One of the dogs was nine-year-old Elmo, who was found to be severely underweight, at just 3.56 kilograms.
Elmo, a mini-poodle, also had dental disease, matted fur, internal organ dysfunction, kidney disease, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, neoplasia and conjunctivitis.
The report also said staff "were unsure" about how many breeding dogs were on site.
"Upon direct questioning, we were advised that females could mate [and therefore potentially produce a litter] every reproductive cycle [season/heat]," the report said.
Dogs stacked in shipping container overnight, report says
At night, the dogs were placed into crates in a shipping container from approximately 9pm to 7am the next day.
"Crates within the shipping containers are stacked three-tiers high, with no evidence or accounts of supporting or stabilising structures to prevent crates from becoming dislodged," the report said.
"They were not provided with water in the shipping containers.
"In my professional opinion, the crates used in the shipping containers to house dogs overnight do not permit medium and large-sized dogs to turn around or make themselves comfortable, due to the lack of adequate space.
"I believe the protracted crating of dogs would have resulted in unnecessary discomfort and distress."
The report also found there was a "stark absence of the laundering of bedding throughout the facility" and the facility was lacking in shelter for the dogs.
"I sighted one washing machine which was not in use during our visit. I did not sight any washing [bedding] drying outside, or a laundry dryer. I did not see stores of fabric bedding, however, I did see stores of newspaper," the report said.
"I believe it is inadequate to exclude dogs in the outdoor pens from access to fabric bedding.
"I am concerned that during environmental extremes, the animals without shelter or without adequate shelter may experience unnecessary discomfort and undue suffering."
The vet also found "a severe lack of environmental enrichment".
"I observed puppies in the nursery playing with faeces, dogs in the outdoor pens digging holes in the ground, dogs chewing on wood and one individual chewing on a brick."
Health records limited to text messages between staff and owners
"We were advised that staff communicate particulars relating to any sick animals by mobile text message to the facility owners," the report said.
"These text messages formed the facility's health record for dogs … I do not believe that mobile text messages are sufficient or satisfactory."
NRE Tasmania was contacted for comment about what actions it took following this report.
It said in a statement all decisions following the inspection in 2020 were for the RSPCA.
The department also said Biosecurity Tasmania undertook an inspection, in consultation with RSPCA Tasmania in June 2024 in relation to new reports about conditions at the property received by the Office of the Minister for Primary Industries and Racing.
It said following that inspection, it issued several directions under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 in relation to the conditions encountered.
'Conditions were horrible,' customer says
The ABC has also obtained two cruelty complaint reports received by NRE Tasmania from two separate members of the public following their visits to the facility in July this year.
Some of the dogs surrendered by Tasmanian Labradoodles were overbred and kept in poor conditions. (Supplied: Facebook)
One complaint said: "We went out to get our puppy and the conditions were horrible … I've never seen anything so horrible, those dogs were out in the cold with no shelter."
"Six dogs to each pen and only one kennel in each pen, no grass, just mud … the dogs were matted and covered in mud."
Another complaint said: "What we saw on arrival was nothing short of horrifying."
"As we drove onto the property you could see hundreds of dogs in small fenced-off areas … the dogs were filthy, living in mud … their fur was matted, and they were begging for any type of attention."
A long battle for closure
RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrea Dawkins said it was no secret she wanted the facility to be closed sooner but was limited by the state's current dog legislation.
"We wanted to get the dogs off this property for years, that's not a secret," she said.
The RSPCA first brought 70 charges for overbreeding against the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles in early 2023.
The charges related to alleged overbreeding of their dogs between April 2021 and February 2023.
RSPCA Tasmania's CEO Andrea Dawkins (right) says if charges were pursued against the owners, the business may not have been forced to closed. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
As a result of the settlement, those charges now will not be pursued.
"Our experienced legal representation told us if we wanted to continue with the court process, it would be unlikely the facility would be closed, and that's ultimately what we wanted," Ms Dawkins said.
"Now we need to make sure this never happens again and our dog regulations need to be strengthened."
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