Arche de Noël: a factory-breeding farm camouflaged by deceptively being called a ‘rescue centre’

Overpopulated animals who are enclosed and very rarely or never go out, who flounder in the mud all day long, appalling hygiene, but above all, living beings exploited for mass reproduction: this is the fate reserved for those unfortunate to find themselves here.

Breeding activity practised illegally and knowingly

Azzopardi is perfectly aware that he does not have breeder status given that he explained it himself: “I am not a registered breeder. I would have to pay licensing fees, taxes, and so on”. The breeding activity is hidden for the sole purpose of not having to declare income to administrative services.

The volunteers are also aware, and one of them easily recognises that the dogs are kept in poor conditions: “I know it’s to meet the needs of the rescue, but for me these are not good conditions for breeding dogs.” She even adds that in reality, the majority of those put up for adoption are not there due to being abandoned, but because of the intense reproduction of female dogs kept on site.

The female dogs are smacked, the “champions” are “wanked”

As well as being exploited, the dogs are kept in a dirty environment. The Belgian shepherds in particular are constantly splashing around in the muddy kennels. Their only way of getting dry: a broken kennel and a pathetic basket.

The females - if they have the chance to get dry - are shut up all day long in cramped cages in the dark. The newborn puppies, particularly susceptible to illnesses, are handled with no precautions and exposed to cigarette smoke. One poor female dog, who was benefiting from her daily six minutes of being let out, curious, had the misfortune to approach the puppies. The immediate reaction: a smack, rewarded with a “Clear off!”.

To continue this misery, the boss has no shame in explaining that he “wanks” his dogs to be able to perform artificial inseminations himself, because “this idiot doesn’t know how to fuck“. Time is money, so we are not going to wait for dogs to reproduce naturally! And there is no limit to this cynicism: we also learnt that all of the breeding dogs are named “Champion”, “this way, we don't get it wrong”.

One Voice is filing a complaint against the owner in order to put an end to these animals’ ordeals.

To find out more about Arche de Noël

• Arche de Noël: an adoption process that is unbelievable… and totally illegal
• Arche de Noël: children subjected to the spectacle of animal abuse
• Arche de Noël: puppies sacrificed so as not to spend money
• Arche de Noël: Aria killed because the boss didn't want to help her
• Arche de Noël: a museum of horrors for ‘exotic’ birds

Translated from the French by Joely Justice