Latest news with #ChrisDelforce
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Animal Welfare Notices issued to SA's Andgar Piggery after 14 euthanased by RSPCA
Warning: This article contains distressing content about the alleged mistreatment of animals. It also includes graphic images of injuries and animal living conditions that may cause distress. The ABC has chosen to exclude some of the more confronting images provided. Officials have euthanased over a dozen pigs at a South Australian piggery following two raids by the RSPCA. The investigation was prompted after an animal rights group leaked footage appearing to show pigs feeding on carcasses, and living alongside dead and decomposing animals. The owners and manager of Andgar Piggery at Dublin, 50 minutes outside Adelaide, were also issued with 21 Animal Welfare Notices instructing them to "take immediate action in regards to conditions and maintenance". The ABC reviewed the vision which, according to Victorian-based Farm Transparency Project (FTP), was taken on June 14 and 20. The group's executive director Chris Delforce said the footage was shot inside four sheds where livestock were housed, but the ABC could not independently verify the filming location. "It's clear that the South Australian community is shocked by what they've seen at this piggery and there's a question now about how it was able to get this bad in the first place, " he said. "What it seems to us is that the RSPCA simply does not have the resources to be able to effectively monitor the welfare of animals in farms across the state. "You have to wonder how much cruelty … is going unseen, unnoticed. Mr Delforce said FTP had so far not experienced any legal repercussions for entering the Dublin facility unlawfully, but the group had been fined for illegally entering other agricultural premises in the past to film animals and their living conditions. "We understand that's always going to be a risk, doing what we do, and we accept that there are going to be legal consequences," he said. "But without us taking those risks and facing those consequences nothing will get seen by the public. "Nothing will get done. There'll be no incentive for the government or the RSPCA to actually step in and do anything." In a statement, the SA government said it was aware that RSPCA South Australia was investigating a complaint relating to the piggery but "will not provide commentary on an ongoing investigation". "The state government fully funds RSPCA SA to enforce the act and has provided RSPCA SA an extra $16 million over four years since the 2024-'25 state budget for animal welfare compliance activities," it said. "The government hopes the RSPCA SA finalise their investigation soon and if they find that charges should be laid that they do this expeditiously. "South Australians have no tolerance for acts of animal cruelty." In the wake of media coverage of the footage, dozens of protesters gathered outside the site on Long Plains Road on Saturday to demand the closure of the facility. In a statement on Tuesday, RSPCA South Australia said the investigation into alleged animal welfare breaches at Andgar Piggery was still progressing. Along with the 21 Animal Welfare Notices, the RSPCA said its inspectors would continue to monitor the operation with "spot inspections". The owners and manager had also been formally interviewed, and the RSPCA said it was "now preparing a comprehensive brief of evidence with a view to instigate court proceedings". "We acknowledge the distress and concern these images have caused and we want to assure the community that we take any allegation of animal cruelty extremely seriously," its statement added. "Our Inspectors work diligently with the South Australian Police and other relevant agencies to fully investigate allegations of animal ill-treatment and bring offenders before the courts." The RSPCA did not clarify if charges had been laid. Piggery owner Andgar Proprietors declined to comment. Under South Australia's amended Animal Welfare Act those found guilty of animal cruelty face maximum fines of up to $250,000 and/or 10 years jail for the aggravated ill-treatment of an animal. A corporation can now be fined up to $1 million for mistreating animals. The reforms, which came into effect in February, also include a proactive "duty of care" provision requiring pet owners to provide animals with a minimum level of care such as adequate food and water. The RSPCA and PIRSA were contacted for further comment.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Horror pig farm pics spark investigation
WARNING: Distressing content Shocking footage depicting the alleged internal workings of an Australian pig farm has surfaced on the internet after activists claimed to have discovered a shed full of dead, dying and severely wounded pigs. Taken by activists affiliated with Farm Transparency Project (FTP) in June, the collection of hundreds of photos and a handful of videos show hundreds of pigs packed into large, warehouse-sized sheds. The FTP alleges these photos and videos were all taken at Andgar Piggery near Dublin, South Australia. Images taken by activists affiliated with the Farm Transparency Project depict the disturbing conditions endured by animals at a farm near Dublin in South Australia. Photos show animals with gaping sores living in pens alongside their deceased littermates. Supplied Credit: Supplied Some pigs are recorded struggling to wade through thick, brown muck, which activists allege others had drowned in, as dozens of rats scale the walls and wires that crisscross the walkways between the pens. One animal appears on camera with a gaping, necrotic wound in its body, about 10cm wide and partially filled with what appears to be mud and straw. Massive weeping sores are seen on several animals, and starving creatures are recorded cannibalising their deceased littermates. Some images, which cannot be shown in this article, show dozens of rotting pig corpses piled up on top of one another. This heavily censored image features a pig with a gaping wound visible just above its rear. The wound appears to be old and is stuffed with mud, straw and faeces. Supplied Credit: Supplied FTP project director Chris Delforce said he became involved after getting tipped off by a member of the public who had already attempted to notify the RSPCA. 'We sent some people that we work with in South Australia to go check it out, and we were very concerned with what they captured,' Mr Delforce said. 'A few of us from Melbourne went down and checked it out ourselves just to verify it (and) make sure we comprehensively captured what was going on there … then reported that as soon as we could to the RSPCA and the state government.' In this image, a pig stands over its dead littermate, which lies motionless in the mud. Supplied Credit: Supplied The South Australian RPSCA confirmed it had begun an investigation into the property, and the company is not accused of any wrongdoing. 'A report has been received in relation to concerns regarding the welfare of animals at a property north of Adelaide,' a spokeswoman said. 'As our inspectorate are currently investigating the complaint and being an active investigation, we cannot provide any further information at this time.' South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close said 'no one can stand cruelty' in animal industries. Speaking to 7News, she said it was 'wonderful that the RSPCA is investigating'. 'If cruelty is found, I hope the full force of the law comes down,' she said. An Andgar Piggery spokesperson blamed the conditions on a lack of workers but also conceded he had not seen any of the photos or watched any of the videos taken by activists inside the farm. The Andgar Piggery, where it's been claimed pigs are living in horrendous condoitions. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'We went from four workers to one because one bloke got injured and he's been off for the last three or four months. There we are, with one bloke running the whole farm. We've been advertising, looking for workers … We've got a business to run. We pay taxes,' he said. 'Of course the piggery's never been like that. For all the years we've run pigs, they've never been like that, it's just all of a sudden you've got no workers. Normally, it runs like a clock, it's bloody beautiful.' According to ABN Lookup, the Andgar Piggery owners also own another operation near Mannum, east of Adelaide. An FTP protest is scheduled for Saturday, and a corresponding Facebook event page has been interacted with by hundreds of respondents.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
RSPCA probes conditions on South Australian pig farm after shocking images emerge
WARNING: Distressing content Shocking footage depicting the alleged internal workings of an Australian pig farm has surfaced on the internet after activists claimed to have discovered a shed full of dead, dying and severely wounded pigs. Taken by activists affiliated with Farm Transparency Project (FTP) in June, the collection of hundreds of photos and a handful of videos show hundreds of pigs packed into large, warehouse-sized sheds. The FTP alleges these photos and videos were all taken at Andgar Piggery near Dublin, South Australia. Some pigs are recorded struggling to wade through thick, brown muck, which activists allege others had drowned in, as dozens of rats scale the walls and wires that crisscross the walkways between the pens. One animal appears on camera with a gaping, necrotic wound in its body, about 10cm wide and partially filled with what appears to be mud and straw. Massive weeping sores are seen on several animals, and starving creatures are recorded cannibalising their deceased littermates. Some images, which cannot be shown in this article, show dozens of rotting pig corpses piled up on top of one another. FTP project director Chris Delforce said he became involved after getting tipped off by a member of the public who had already attempted to notify the RSPCA. 'We sent some people that we work with in South Australia to go check it out, and we were very concerned with what they captured,' Mr Delforce said. 'A few of us from Melbourne went down and checked it out ourselves just to verify it (and) make sure we comprehensively captured what was going on there … then reported that as soon as we could to the RSPCA and the state government.' The South Australian RPSCA confirmed it had begun an investigation into the property, and the company is not accused of any wrongdoing. 'A report has been received in relation to concerns regarding the welfare of animals at a property north of Adelaide,' a spokeswoman said. 'As our inspectorate are currently investigating the complaint and being an active investigation, we cannot provide any further information at this time.' South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close said 'no one can stand cruelty' in animal industries. Speaking to 7News, she said it was 'wonderful that the RSPCA is investigating'. 'If cruelty is found, I hope the full force of the law comes down,' she said. An Andgar Piggery spokesperson blamed the conditions on a lack of workers but also conceded he had not seen any of the photos or watched any of the videos taken by activists inside the farm. 'We went from four workers to one because one bloke got injured and he's been off for the last three or four months. There we are, with one bloke running the whole farm. We've been advertising, looking for workers … We've got a business to run. We pay taxes,' he said. 'Of course the piggery's never been like that. For all the years we've run pigs, they've never been like that, it's just all of a sudden you've got no workers. Normally, it runs like a clock, it's bloody beautiful.' According to ABN Lookup, the Andgar Piggery owners also own another operation near Mannum, east of Adelaide. An FTP protest is scheduled for Saturday, and a corresponding Facebook event page has been interacted with by hundreds of respondents.
ABC News
16-07-2025
- ABC News
RSPCA investigates piggery after activist group footage shows pigs eating carcasses
Warning: This article contains distressing content about the alleged mistreatment of animals. It also includes graphic images of injuries and animal living conditions that may cause distress. The ABC has chosen to exclude or pixelate some of the more confronting images provided. The RSPCA is investigating alleged animal welfare breaches at a South Australian abattoir, after footage emerged showing pigs feeding on carcasses, and living alongside dead and decomposed animals. Victorian activist group Farm Transparency Project (FTP) said it captured the images in June during separate visits to the site on Long Plains Road, Dublin. On June 26, the group supplied an edited 16-minute clip to the RSPCA, which carried out an inspection the following day, according to correspondence between the organisations. In a statement, an RSPCA spokesperson said a report had been received "in relation to concerns regarding the welfare of animals at a property north of Adelaide". "Our inspectorate are currently investigating the complaint and as such, no further comments will be provided at this time," they said. The ABC reviewed the vision, which was taken on June 14 and 20, according to FTP executive director Chris Delforce, and has been published on the group's website. Mr Delforce said it depicted conditions inside four sheds where livestock were housed, but the ABC could not independently verify the filming location. Initially, the clip shows several live pigs having difficulty wading through a pool of mud, along with masses of living and immobile pigs huddled together. In at least two instances, pigs are seen cannibalising carcasses belonging to other pigs, and on a further two occasions can be seen eating other unidentified animals. One close-up shows a pig with a bone-deep, open wound on its back, roughly 10 centimetres across. Another, which the ABC chose not to publish, showed a live pig attempting to walk with a tennis ball-sized growth protruding from its anus. In another segment, more than a dozen dead pigs have been piled into a pen, but at least three appear to be alive and trapped in the gaps of the gate. When one of them is pulled free, it appears unable to walk on its hind legs. Drone footage showed 13 enclosures on the property altogether, but Mr Delforce said the others were in "normal conditions" and animals appeared "healthy and relatively bright". The initial batch of video was taken by a group Mr Delforce described as "Adelaide-based investigators", while he and a colleague captured follow-up vision to verify the conditions. Piggery owner Andgar Proprietors declined to comment on the footage, including whether the company was aware of the conditions and if it took any steps to rectify them. In a statement, Australian Pork chief executive Margo Andrae said the industry group was carrying out its own investigation and would support the RSPCA's enquiries. "Any breaches of animal welfare have no place in Australian pig farming and are fundamentally at odds with the values and practices our farmers expect of their peers. "The Australian pork industry remains firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare." Mr Delforce, who co-founded FTP in 2014 with the aim of forcing the closure of the Australian meat-processing industry, said "it was some of the worst conditions [he'd] ever seen" in investigating more than 40 abattoirs. This year, the SA government introduced new maximum penalties for animal cruelty of 10 years' imprisonment or a $250,000 fine, but Mr Delforce said he had "very little faith in SA authorities". He cited another SA abattoir which had been granted an exemption for stunning goats before slaughter, but in 2023, the group captured footage of workers failing to do so immediately after cutting their throats, as recommended by best practice guidelines. The Department of Environment and Water advised him it identified no animal cruelty offences, but did conduct an on-site education visit. "There's all sorts of things you can do to pigs that you couldn't do to a dog or cat, and that's just because there's money to be made," Mr Delforce said. "We need the public to show them that they have to grow a spine and stand up to these industries, otherwise nothing is going to change. "We want this place to shut down, and nothing short of that is going to be acceptable to us." The department, which was also sent the footage, said it did not provide comments during ongoing investigations. South Australia's Environment Minister Susan Close defended the state's animal welfare regime. "South Australians have little tolerance for acts of animal cruelty and the government is overhauling a number of pieces of legislation pertaining to the management and care of animals to bring them into line with community expectations," she said. "There are also numerous codes, including the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Livestock and Poultry at Slaughtering Establishments (Abattoirs, Slaughterhouses and Knackeries), to ensure animals are treated humanely. "The government also had input into a national review of livestock processing standards and guidelines." It is unknown when the RSPCA will hand down findings.
