Woman who had 21 dogs seized would've died if she stayed in her home much longer, son says – Stuff

The owner of 21 designer dogs seized from her Christchurch property would have died if she had stayed in her home much longer, her son says.
Twenty-one spoodles (a cocker spaniel and poodle cross) were seized from what the SPCA called a “serious” and “unsafe” environment at Rebecca MacPherson’s Roydvale Ave property in Burnside on Wednesday.
Firefighters, initially wearing breathing apparatus, police and animal management were involved, taking all the dogs on the property, and several birds, away.
MacPherson told Stuff she lived for her dogs, cooking them meat and sharing her bed with 10 of them, but conceded she ended up with too many when she struggled to sell puppies.
READ MORE:
* Spoodles that escaped Christchurch puppy mill ‘overtly malnourished’, say couple who came to their rescue
* Twenty-one designer puppies rescued from ‘serious situation’ at Christchurch property
* Lockdown puppies and dogs are now being abandoned in record numbers

Stuff is aware of at least four complaints made to the SPCA about MacPherson in the past three years.
Robert, who did not want his last name used, bought one of MacPherson’s puppies three years ago and was "horrified" by the conditions they were kept in. He contacted the SPCA straight away.
“The SPCA carried out an inspection of the premises at that time but deemed it to be of acceptable conditions. We disagreed and couldn’t leave the puppy we had picked behind," Robert said.
When Erika Gleave first went to MacPherson’s to choose a puppy the same year, she said the conditions "broke her heart" and she felt she had to save one.
She reported the conditions and her concerns to the SPCA. She didn’t hear back.
Casey Robinson, who lost a $50 deposit after trying to buy a puppy off MacPherson two years ago, said she contacted the SPCA at the time and was told MacPherson wasn’t meant to be breeding dogs.
Sue, who did not want her surname published, took her two dogs to MacPherson to be groomed in 2020 and complained to the SPCA after her dogs were shaved down to the skin.
SPCA science officer Dr Alison Vaughan said she could not comment on specific complaints, but the organisation opposed the breeding of puppies and other animals by breeders whose primary motivation was producing a large number of animals for profit.
Vaughan encouraged people looking to rather adopt an animal from the numerous pet rescue organisations across the country.
“If people choose to purchase a puppy or kitten from a breeder, it’s important they find a reputable breeder who will require you to visit in person to view the animal with the animal’s mother. They will also have conducted the relevant health checks for the breed, and be able to provide proof of such things as vaccinations.”
On Friday, MacPherson’s son, Rodney MacPherson, said they would meet with the SPCA on Monday about the next steps.
Thirteen puppies would need to be sold to help fund his mother’s recovery, he said.
“She’s obviously not going to have all these dogs back because that’s ridiculous.”
He said when he spoke to the SPCA they were “very happy” with the condition of the dogs.
“It wasn’t the dogs that were malnourished, it was Rebecca.”
Rebecca MacPherson, who was in remission from cancer, and had recently had Covid-19 and the flu while barely eating for two months, was in hospital getting care, her son said.
“I think it’s a really good thing myself… if she stayed in that house for much longer she would’ve just died in that house, her health was that bad.
“She can’t smell, so she doesn’t realise her health was bad, and she wouldn’t do anything about it, so now she’s been forced to do something about it. It’s the best thing ever.”
Rodney MacPherson said he had talked with his wife earlier in the week about whether they should call the SPCA to get help.
He said he was considering taking the dogs until his mother got better.
“These dogs are her life. That’s what keeps her going, so whatever it takes I suppose really.”
A spokesperson for SPCA said on Friday they were giving medical treatment to the dogs.
MacPherson, who appears to also go by the name Rebecca Anderson, previously ran Beccijanes Cattery in Wairakei Rd, where two cat owners returned from their Christmas holidays in 2016 to discover it had lost their cats.
She advertises three businesses online: Rebecca’s Spoodles, Happy Tails dog grooming, and Westside Curtains.
Rebecca’s Spoodles advertises the puppies for sale between $1450 and $2000.
Speaking to Stuff on Thursday, MacPherson disputed allegations the dogs were malnourished and unsafe.
She agreed she had too many dogs, but said she was unable to sell them.
MacPherson said she was “absolutely numb” and believed authorities had “no right to seize” the dogs and wanted to get them back.
“I do everything for my dogs. I live for them.”
Dogs New Zealand is the country’s organisation for credible dog breeders. MacPherson is not thought to be a member.
SPCA national inspectorate manager Alan Wilson said an investigation was under way and would likely take several weeks.
© 2022 Stuff Limited

source