A resident has been banned from owning a dog for ten years after 82 puppies were rescued in what a judge described as a “heartbreaking” case.
The dogs were seized from a home in Perth’s east in October 2022 following an investigation by Swan City Council.
The council received complaints about the number of dogs kept on the site, as there were concerns about their welfare.
The resident appeared in court in Midland in June on allegations he kept dogs on the property, Western Australian reported.
The offence relates to the registration and keeping of surplus dogs under the Planning and Development Act 2005 and the Dog Act 1976.
The resident was fined $95,000 and banned from owning a dog for 10 years.
The magistrate called the case “heartbreaking”, while Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the incident had been “confronting” for council staff.
Ms Richardson said she hopes the court ruling will stop people from committing similar crimes again.
The resident was given a 10-year dog ban and ordered to pay $95,000 after concerns were raised about the welfare of the dogs (pictured is Wally the Kelpie)
“This is a deterrent to others and it also reaffirms the thorough investigation and seizure process carried out by our staff,” she said.
The council also imposed an $80,000 fine for keeping the dogs on the premises.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Swan City Council for further comment.
The dogs rescued by the council and RSPCA WA have been treated and have now been rehomed to new accommodation at the council’s animal shelter.
Wally the Kelpie, one of the dogs rescued by the RSPCA, had to have his leg amputated.
An RSPCA spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that Wally had “high medical needs” and was receiving veterinary treatment before being adopted in March 2023.
RSPCA WA rehomed 7,669 dogs between 2022 and 2023.
The latest case came after the Western Australian government passed the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy) Farming Act 2021.
The resident appeared in court in Midland (pictured) in June accused of keeping more than 80 dogs on the property
The law is intended to better regulate the dog breeding industry in the state and give local governments more power to crack down on irresponsible dog breeders.
The state government also awarded IT services provider Seisma Group a $9.8 million contract to develop a cat and dog registration system in Western Australia.
The new system is expected to be fully operational in 2025.
