SHEEPDOG CHAMP’S UNREGISTERED PUPPY FARM:
A CHAMPION sheepdog trial competitor was fined $5000 yesterday after admitting he ran an illegal puppy farm at Lovely Banks.
The City of Greater Geelong took border collie breeder Mervyn Peters to court for running the unregistered domestic animal business.
The court heard Peters, 68, represented Australia’s Test team in sheepdog trials against New Zealand in the 1990s, and was a respected farmer, known for his contribution to agriculture and football in Victoria’s southwest.
At the height of his breeding operation, earlier this year, he had 22 female dogs on his Evan Rd property.
While the dogs were well cared for, the court was told he ignored directives from the Geelong council that the businesses needed to be registered.
“This is not just a simple backyard breeder,” the City’s prosecutor Wayne Lugg said.
“He’s an experienced person within the dog industry, and he should know (his obligations).
“It’s simply a money-making exercise.”
The defendant’s lawyer said Peters conceded “he ought to have had his licence, (and) he ought to have known better”.
But the prosecutor’s claims that the farmer kept operating after being issued with his notice by council were disputed.
“There is no material to say he is currently operating a business,” the defence lawyer said.
“He got rid of them (the dogs). He fire-saled them.”
However, Mr Lugg said the man had admitted advertising dogs for sale months after the council moved to shut down his unregistered operation.
Magistrate Frank Jones said the dog breeding industry was regulated for good reason, and Peters should have understood the need to protect the animals and buyers by complying with the rules.
“It’s a serious offence ... puppy farming,” Mr Jones said.
He fined Peters $5000 but did not convict him, noting the reasonable conditions the animals were kept in.
“If I was you, I wouldn’t want to be selling any dogs ... until you get yourself registered,” Mr Jones said.
“He’s an experienced person within the dog industry, and he should know (his obligations). It’s simply a money-making exercise.” PROSECUTOR WAYNE LUGG