Animal activists have welcomed the closure of two piggeries in the Canberra region, as the RSPCA nears a decision on whether to launch prosecutions for alleged animal cruelty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An RSPCA spokesman confirmed that Wally's Piggery in Murrumbateman and the connected business of Tennessee Piggery near Young had closed earlier this year, after activists released confronting footage of alleged animal cruelty at Wally's.
''We are still in the process of compiling a brief of the available, admissible evidence and will be making a decision in the near future, based on this evidence, as to whether the matter will be prosecuted or not,'' he said.
Video released in August last year showed workers at the Murrumbateman piggery kicking piglets and beating sows with a sledgehammer, leading to police and RSPCA investigations. Footage said to be of the Tennessee Piggery showed pigs in cramped and rat-infested conditions.
There was public condemnation of the workers' actions and an online petition to shut Wally's Piggery reached 20,000 signatures. But the RSPCA said the closures were already planned by owner Wally Perenc.
''He was in the late stages of winding up those piggeries anyway - we worked with Wally to ensure that he met legislative standards,'' the spokesman said.
Animal Liberation ACT spokeswoman Jessica Ferry claimed the videos released by the organisation played a part in the closures, which it announced to its supporters on Thursday.
Australian Pork chief executive Andrew Spencer said the two piggeries did not reflect industry standards.