The community is being encouraged to come forward with any information about illegal kitten sales in the area after nine kittens were seized from a Ballarat home.
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After consistent tip-offs from the community, RSPCA Victoria's Major Investigations Team executed two warrants at a Ballarat property on Friday as part of an investigation into alleged illegal animal rearing and animal cruelty matters.
Team Leader, Lisa Calleja, said members of the public provided crucial evidence that prompted the RSPCA's investigation.
"We rely on members of the public to provide tip-offs and information, so we're grateful to those who contacted RSPCA and provided information which proved crucial to investigating this case," Ms Calleja said.
"We were able to act quickly and secure these warrants based on the information provided to us, and the execution of these warrants resulted in the seizure of nine kittens from the property."
The kittens have been examined by vets and are receiving medical care.
The two individuals who were the subject of the warrants have faced courts for rearing kittens illegally several times in the past. Despite having recorded convictions and a court-ordered ban prohibiting them from operating a domestic animal business, they have allegedly continued to operate.
We rely on members of the public to provide tip-offs and information, so we're grateful to those who contacted RSPCA and provided information which proved crucial to investigating this case
- Lisa Calleja, RSPCA
The Courier understands there are also ongoing court cases.
President of Oscar's Law, Georgie Purcell, said the not-for-profit was concerned about ongoing illegal cat and kitten sales across the Ballarat region.
"Many of these kittens are underage, very sick, or both," she said, adding some were so ill they needed to be euthanised.
Oscar's Law first reported illegal sales in the Ballarat region in 2019, and Ms Purcell said it was disappointing to see repeat offenders flouting Victoria's animal welfare laws.
"There has been a concerning lack of action to stop these illegal sales, which often take place in public places like car parks and the side of the road. The coronavirus restrictions preventing home visitors have normalised this behaviour to buyers."
She encouraged anybody who had purchased a kitten from an online trading site in the area and who was concerned about the seller to come forward, or the behaviour would "continue to go unpunished".
Western Victoria MP Andy Meddick said the illegal sales had been a problem in his electorate "for some time".
"I have been involved in exposing the activities of one of these traders for cruelty since before being elected when they first surfaced in Geelong, and have since expanded their activities across the electorate."
But he said tougher penalties were needed to deter the behaviour.
"As long as the penalties for systemic illegal selling of animals is not met with harsher penalties and jail terms, these people and others will continue to treat the law and the courts with contempt, with defenceless animals again the victims."
The maximum penalty for operating an unregistered domestic animal business is up to $29,805 for individuals and $109,044 for body corporates.
The RSPCA could not comment on what the individuals were expected to be charged with.
All reports should be lodged via www.rspcavic.org/services/tip-off or by calling 9224 2222. Facebook messages and emails through unofficial channels do not constitute an official cruelty report.
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