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Manhunt after masked figures steal puppy from backyard

A single mother of six has been left devastated after two masked dog-snatchers jumped the fence of their family home and stole their new puppy from the backyard in broad daylight on Tuesday. “We only got it two days ago, and it was a puppy to my children,” Jamie-Lee told 7NEWS. The puppy - a pug named Willow - was bought on Sunday, and according to the mum problems started arising not long after, when the vendor demanded the puppy back. “(They said) if we didn’t give the dog back, they were going to steal it — 48 hours later that’s exactly what they did,” she said. She added that they also returned just after midnight on Wednesday, with CCTV footage capturing their car driving past their home that night. “I don’t know if they were coming back for the second dog,” she said. “It’s yeah, very scary.” Police are appealing for information and have asked anyone who might've seen the dog, who has distinct brown and blue eyes, to contact them. “We paid for this dog, we own this dog, it is our puppy,” Jamie-Lee said. Image: 7News

Legal

“What a legend”: Brave Aussie pensioner saves puppy from a snake

An Aussie pensioner has gone the extra mile to save her terrified puppy from a carpet snake. Anne Murphy, a woman from NSW’s Lennox Head, captured the moment her 80-year-old mother went toe-to-toe with the slippery intruder who was terrorising her dog and shared the interaction on a Facebook page called Australian Country Memes. According to Anne, her mother bolted out the door one Monday evening when she heard her dog “screaming”, when she was confronted with the carpet snake. The non-venomous snake had wrapped around the small dog and bitten it on the chin, when the 80-year-old intervened. The woman was “bitten three times” by the snake, before she “caught the snake so it could be taken out to the bush and hopefully not make its way back to her place”. She then took her puppy to the vet, and got home three hours after the incident first happened. The post has since received over 2,000 likes and hundreds comments, hailing the 80-year-old as a “legend“, “gutsy” and a “wonderful woman.” “She is a true blue here. My hat is off to you, amazing lady,” one person wrote. Another added, “Way to go! That’s just what country people do. God love her, they don’t make them like that anymore.” Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook

Family & Pets

Woman rejects $200k offer for her puppy

A woman has divided social media viewers after she claiming that she declined a stranger's $200k ($303,000 AUD) offer for her Doberman pinscher puppy. In the viral video, which has since racked up over 970,000 views, Alexis Elliott said: “someone offered us $200k for our puppy, and I told my husband, ‘absolutely f**king not’.” “Would you guys sell your dogs for $200k? Like, that is my baby!" the LA-based woman asked her followers. Many couldn't believe that she declined the offer. “It’s a crime to not accept 200k,” one wrote. “In this economy? Yes,” another commented. “Would run upstairs so fast and pack his bag,” a third joked. While some people were eager enough to give up their own dogs for $200,000, others agreed with Elliot and said that they would never give up their fur babies. “ABSOLUTELY NOT. The people saying yes should not have a dog tbh,” one viewer commented, adding: “That boy is my life.” <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 580px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7308537421770116395&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40itsalexiselliott%2Fvideo%2F7308537421770116395%3Flang%3Den&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Ff7435052bbf14b62a0c22bb295962a0f_1701651485%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast5-i-0068-tx%2FoMfzRS5SbCDFYrMIAQZA7AAlb2PgflRLDERaED.image%3Fx-expires%3D1702508400%26x-signature%3Di2tT0G7gwHGCVFhMDi4EPSvcPUI%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> “A lot of you in these comments don’t deserve a dog,” another slammed. “Omg never. The thought of my dog being confused and feeling abandoned breaks my heart,” a third commented, while another user added that they wouldn't sell their dog even if they were offered one million dollars. One sceptic added: “Nobody offered you 200k for a dog, people with that kind of money are mostly financially smart. And you did not birth it." A few others came to Elliot's defence and said that it had happened to them in the past. “Someone offered me 100k for my dog. He was a pretty well-off athlete. Not everyone is smart with their money,” one commented. “I had a lady offer us $1M for our dog, and when we laughed she said, ‘No seriously, make me an offer, I’ll pay it’,” another claimed. Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

"It was beautiful": Rare rainbow cloud stuns small farming town

The locals of a small farming town in Western Australia have been delighted with the sighting of a rare rainbow cloud. The colourful weather phenomenon appeared above the town of Goomalling, about 130km northwest of Perth in Western Australia, on Tuesday morning. Jenni Shaw was at her family-owned business when she got a text from a friend instructing her to look up at the sky. "We all went out the front and had a look and there was some bright, rainbow-type clouds in the sky that we hadn't seen before," she told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-24/rainbow-cloud-iridescence-irisation-delights-wheatbelt-community/103016928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. “It was beautiful,” she said. “But we were a bit like ‘why is that like that? Should we still be outside looking or not?’” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flang.lefroy.7%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02h2HTyVYSVda8NkewrireTWPS4P6wKTnuJxhBWfkNhbxGn3QzHweELRNFQczM8GsPl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="645" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Ms Shaw said the rainbow-coloured cloud was visible for just a few minutes. "It was not there long, just long enough for us all to get some photos," she said. <p class="paragraph_paragraph__3Hrfa" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Jessica Lingard from the Bureau of Meteorology said rainbow clouds, known as cloud iridescence, form in the same way as rainbows - when sunlight diffracts off water or ice crystals in the sky. "It's quite a rare phenomenon to catch in person," she said. "It's the perfect storm of conditions: the sun's at the right angle, the clouds are not too thin and not too thick that they're being blocked out, and the sunlight has just created this spectacle of coloured light." <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> "It's an absolutely stunning photo." </div> Lucky local residents said it wasn’t the first time they’d seen the special clouds in the area. “I have seen clouds like this a few times in my travels, mostly in the Wheatbelt,” Jill Lefroy wrote on Facebook. “Pretty awesome seeing a rainbow with no rain!” Image credits: Facebook

Domestic Travel

Iconic Dulux dog gives birth to adorable puppies

The iconic Dulux dog has given birth to seven adorable Old English Sheepdog puppies. The heart-warming news was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the global paint brand to celebrate International Dog Day. The pups can be seen running around on wobbly legs and playing with each other before resting on their mother, Olivia. Olivia, who lives in Lincolnshire in England, is the current the face of the Dulux ads, with the brand using Old English Sheepdogs in their advertisements for more than 60 years. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This International Dog Day, we're introducing the next generation of Dulux puppies.... Say hello to our fluffy friends 🐶 <a href="https://t.co/NApCnZUHT3">pic.twitter.com/NApCnZUHT3</a> — Dulux UK | Colour & Inspiration (@duluxuk) <a href="https://twitter.com/duluxuk/status/1695346808568861170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> Olivia's pups may already have their future in showbiz sorted, with Dulux calling the six-week-old puppies "stars in their own right", hinting they may appear in ads as they get older. Dulux Creative Director and Colour Expert Marianne Shillingford said, “As proud sponsors of the Old English Sheepdog Rescue & Welfare Fund, we’re delighted to be able to finally share the exciting news of the irresistible puppy additions to the Dulux family.” “The pups are stars in their own right, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of them in the years to come.” The beloved breed of dog has been synonymous with the Dulux brand since first appearing in a Dulux ad in 1961 when the director’s Old English Sheepdog, Dash, crashed one of the adverts. The camera and cast loved Dash so much that he made it into the ad after the final edit. After Dash, pup Digby took the reins - and was perhaps the most famous Dulux dog after picking up a Hollywood film credit. Between 1995 and 2002, the position was held by Mash, followed by Willow and, most recently, two Old English Sheepdogs, Madison and Olivia. Image credits: Dulux

Family & Pets

Russell Crowe opens up about tragic loss of puppy

Russell Crowe has opened up about the grief he’s endured from the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/russell-crowe-loses-best-friend-in-tragic-accident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death of his beloved puppy</a> Louis the Papillion. In an appearance on the Kyle & Jackie O Show, the actor introduced his new furry friend Ezekiel to the hosts, which was quickly met with the radio titans asking how he dealt with the loss of his other dog. "At first we were both like well he's irreplaceable, we can't get another puppy," Crowe said. "That was just a really difficult hole to fill.” "We put so much emotion into that little dog and then he died as tragically as he did," he continued. "The only way we could really stop that from being so harsh was to get another puppy.” Later in the interview, the star revealed that he had the dog flown over from South Australia to Sydney in a private jet. "I'm dealing with Britney whose level of grief was so deep that yeah I put her on a little jet and sent her to go see the dog, then she picked up the dog and came home," Crowe admitted of his girlfriend's pain. "I know it makes me look like a bit of a tosser but you know it's about 'what do I need to do right now to help Britney’." His tragic confession comes just two months after Louis the Papillion’s death. Image credit: Instagram / TikTok

Family & Pets

Dog lovers rejoice after "greedy" serial puppy farmer handed life ban

A serial puppy offender has faced sentencing over 17 charges of animal cruelty, with both a lifetime ban and thousands of dollars in fees included in her punishment. The 51-year-old woman from Bullsbrook, a northern suburb in Perth, had been breeding sick dogs in squalid conditions while charging their potential new owners thousands of dollars, and has now been banned from owning or breeding any more dogs for the rest of her life. For her cruel actions, the Perth Magistrates Court handed her a “10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, $25,000 in fines and an 18-month Intensive Supervision Order.” Additionally, the repeat offender - who has been in custody since April 14 after breaching the conditions of her bail - was also ordered to pay $24,279.11 in legal costs, as well as care and treatment costs totalling $18,241.01. The charges were in relation to 23 dogs who were seized from her property in June 2020 - with sought-after breeds including the likes of Maltese, shih-tzus, poodles, and cavalier King Charles spaniels among them. It wasn’t her first offence - instead her fourth - but her most recent was in 2014 when the RSPCA found 50 dogs at her former home, with 12 of the animals “hidden in a bunker three metres underground”. This time around, she had been trying to conceal her crimes. As the court heard in December, she has been moving the dogs between three different Bullbrook addresses in a bid to avoid detection. It was a display of “callous disregard or at least wilful blindness,” Magistrate Janie Gibbs said. RSPCA WA had launched their investigation into her after a member of the public reported their concerns - they had been trying to purchase a puppy through Gumtree, and had grown suspicious when they were informed they couldn’t visit the dog at home. From there, RSPCA WA seized 32 dogs from the woman’s property - of which there were four adult males, 19 adult females, and nine puppies - with the majority of them showing signs of being “underweight, unkempt, or unwell”, and nearly all of them suffering from “ear infections and/or dental disease and … matted, overgrown hair”. Two did not survive, and five of them were pregnant, giving birth to 22 more puppies in the weeks to follow. All have been in the foster care of RSPCA WA while the case went on. As RSPCA WA Executive Manager Animal and Enforcement Operations Hannah Dreaver explained, the woman responsible had been operating a profit-driven business, and had been placing her income well above the welfare of the dogs in her care. “This included using several locations to hide this operation from both authorities and potential puppy buyers,” she added. “All were popular breeds selling for thousands of dollars. These dogs were making her a fortune and she was treating them as nothing more than money-making machines, having litter after litter without proper care. “Please, if you want to get a dog, consider adoption from the RSPCA or another reputable rescue organisation first. If you do decide to buy a puppy, never buy online and never buy sight unseen. “Always meet your new puppy and its mum in the home where it’s being raised.” Images: RSPCA WA

Family & Pets

Russell Crowe loses best friend in tragic accident

Gladiator star Russell Crowe has announced the tragic passing of his puppy, Louis. The actor broke the news on Twitter, explaining that his “tiny, cheeky, [and] brave” boy had been hit by a truck, and despite the best efforts of vets, had lost his life. "This is Louis the Papillion. 16 months old. Tiny, cheeky, brave. He won my heart," he wrote alongside an image of the pup. “Unfortunately today, on the second anniversary of my fathers passing, Louis was hit by a truck. "We tried to get him to the vet, but he died in my arms while I was telling him how much we loved him." Condolences poured in through Russell’s comment section, with many noting that their hearts were breaking for his family in this difficult time. “We are heartbroken for you and so deeply sorry for your loss. Louis will be in your heart forever. Sending all of our love, comfort, and strength,” wrote animal rights group PETA. “So sorry to hear this Russel. My heart goes out to you,” said fellow actor Vincent D’Onofrio. “I am so sorry! What a beautiful face and those eyes. I like to think our pets wait for us to join them one day, loyal as ever,” self-proclaimed ‘dog devotee’ Alicia Rancilio shared. And as Today’s Michelle Stephenson summed it up, “Well this is just so heartbreaking”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is Louis the Papillion. 16 months old. Tiny, cheeky, brave. He won my heart. Unfortunately today, on the second anniversary of my fathers passing, Louis was hit by a truck. We tried to get him to the vet, but he died in my arms while I was telling him how much we loved him. <a href="https://t.co/zIwzUz8Ljx">pic.twitter.com/zIwzUz8Ljx</a> — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1641302352161562624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote> Russell’s loss came as a sort of double tragedy, hitting him just two years after his father had passed away at the age of 85. The 58-year-old made that painful news public through Twitter as well, writing at the time that “I arrived back in the bush last night. Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness. “My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away.” Despite the grief sure to be weighing heavily on his shoulders, Russell and his family will always have their happy memories with Louis - and Russell’s dad - to hold on to. Like the dress up day Russell and Louis shared in December 2021, where Russell overcame his distaste for “dressing dogs up” to match his little friend. After sharing that it wasn’t his thing - as well as a photo of the two with their heads together and a smile on Russell’s face - he went on to explain in a tweet that a friend had bought a Ralph Lauren polo shirt for “little Louis … so he can match with dad. “I think the other dogs on the farm are going to get jealous. Pretty funny.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m not at all a fan of dressing dogs up, but, a friend bought little Louis a ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/RalphLauren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RalphLauren</a>⁩ polo so he can match with dad. I think the other dogs on the farm are going to get jealous. Pretty funny. <a href="https://t.co/odmCZwfvA8">pic.twitter.com/odmCZwfvA8</a> — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1605404835599159296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></blockquote> Images: Twitter

Family & Pets

Breeder faces the consequences for “squalid” puppy farm

A 60-year-old man from Western Australia has been dealt over $100,000 in penalties, an animal cruelty charge, and a 40 year animal ownership ban in the wake of RSPCA inspectors seizing 39 dogs from him. The horrific conditions in which the dogs were living were brought to their attention after a customer came by to purchase a dog from the man’s Bridgetown property in January 2022. He was asking for $5000 a puppy, despite the filth the dogs were being forced to live in - reportedly facing everything from infection to drinking from sewage pipes. In a post to RSPCA WA’s Facebook account, it was revealed that the man “has been given what amounts to a lifetime ban from breeding animals after RSPCA inspectors seized 39 labradoodles from his Bridgetown home in January. “The offender was banned from owning any animal for 40 years, with one notable exception; the Magistrate ruled he could have up to three sterilised dogs. The offender, who pleaded guilty to 28 charges of animal cruelty, has also been fined $112,000, $64,000 of which was suspended for two years.” It went on to outline the conditions the inspector had encountered, and that - importantly - the “The dogs continue to recover in the care of RSPCA WA.” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRSPCAWA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kdjk1JMbPpBanhpEFJGKd2wB9sCzuhHi4EivkDEckADnUFNgJb24Wmdgt8MuLDaRl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="708" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Kylie Green, Inspector Manager for RSPCA WA, explained that the dogs were examined by a veterinarian after they were removed from the property, and discovered that they were suffering from a whole host of conditions - with everything from ear infections to matted fur, dental disease, and conjunctivitis. “A lot of the dogs and puppies were also suffering from significant psychological harm, as determined by a veterinary behaviourist,” she added. “Some of them just stood in their kennels for weeks after they first came here, staring at the wall and refusing to interact. “It’s a credit to our expert staff and network of dedicated foster carers that they’ve come as far as they have, but this is what people need to stop and consider when they are looking to buy a ‘cute’ puppy.” Kyle went on to stress the importance of evaluating the conditions any puppy is being raised in before buying, whether “you buy from an unregistered breeder, if you buy off the internet or social media”. As without “clean, safe conditions” and a “happy and healthy” mother, “there’s a chance you are supporting this kind of cruelty.” Images: RSPCA WA / Facebook

Family & Pets

“You won’t believe it”: An a-moo-sing new addition for one Victorian farm

Megan and Barry Coster, two dairy farmers from Victoria’s West Gippsland region, were given the smiling surprise of a lifetime during their latest round of calving. “My husband was collecting calves to bring in for the day,” Megan told ABC’s rural reporter Annie Brown. “And I think I was off with the kids at sport, and I just got this text message of this calf, and he’s [Barry] like ‘you won’t believe it’. “Originally when he got the calf up he didn’t notice, and then he turned around and looked on the other side, and couldn’t believe it.” The calf, affectionately named ‘Happy’ by the family, had been born with an award-winning grin - just not where one would expect. On his side was a very unique marking - two eyes, a nose, and a big smile. When asked how old Happy was, Megan explained that he had only been born three or four days prior to the discovery, and went on to add that they had a lot of calving going on, so it was a busy time for them, and likely why they hadn’t immediately noticed what made Happy so special. “We’ve seen some number sevens, or love hearts on the head, and a few strange markings but we’ve never seen anything that resembles a smiley face before … we’ve had thousands over the years, and we’ve never had anything like it,” Megan said. “I couldn’t believe it,” she went on, before admitting she’d checked to ensure none of their staff had added any of the lines to the young cow. “And then I was pretty quickly sharing it with some of my friends - none of them could believe it either.” Megan went on to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591950161115622/permalink/3523334507977168/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to Facebook</a>, sharing a photo of their spectacular latest addition with the caption “the funniest marking we’ve had for a while”, to the delight of fellow dairy fans around the world. “They look fake! How awesome,” wrote one individual, who seemed to share Megan’s initial disbelief, “best marking I’ve seen.” “I guess that's his good side,” joked another. “Love it. That's got to be a keeper as a pet,” said one, unaware that the family had every intention of keeping Happy on a pet - though he might also have to pull his weight as a lawn mower. “One very happy calf,” came one declaration. One person hit the nail on the head when they said “this one will always put a smile on your face every time u c [you see] it.” Although not everyone was quite so onboard with the lovefest, with one woman admitting that she found it to be “a little bit clown-creepy”. Images: Facebook

Family & Pets

Man fined after beating four-month-old puppy

A man from Perth has been found guilty of beating his pet puppy and unleashing verbal threats at an animal welfare inspector. The man, 44, slapped the four-month-old Boerboel named Hank on the head and just five minutes later punched the puppy as many as five times across the face, Joondalup Magistrates Court was told. The two attacks unfolded at the offender’s home in Butler. A witness report and <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/court-justice/butler-man-fined-over-savage-attack-on-pet-boerboel-puppy-threatening-rspca-worker-c-9067569" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video evidence</a> were enough for an RSPCA WA inspector to obtain a warrant and enter the man’s home alongside WA Police. The owner admitted losing his cool at his pet after it had been to the toilet inside the house. Hank was taken into care at the RSPCA’s Malaga animal care centre. Inspector manager Kylie Green said there was never an excuse to physically harm an animal. The man was fined $3000 for the attack on his pet and banned from being in contact with animals for five years. He has also been fined $800 for verbally abusing and threatening an RSPCA inspector and ordered to pay costs of $615. Image: RSPCA WA

Legal

Alan Jones offloads farm home for less than expected

After a seven-month campaign, Alan Jones’ farm in the NSW Southern Highlands has finally sold, and is believed to have resulted in a smaller profit than initial hopes. The home was sold for an undisclosed price by Liam Griffiths of Inglis Rural Property to a buyer on a walk-in, walk-out basis, meaning that extras such as furniture are included in the sale. However, it is understood that the property sold for less than the initial desired price of $16-$17.5 million, per <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/alan-jones-sells-southern-highlands-farm-discounted-from-17-5m-high-hopes-2-1186063/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a>. First listed in April this year, Griffiths took over the listing in October with a price range of $15 to $16 million. Jones has owned the property, known as Elizabeth Farm and Charleville in honour of his parents, since 2003 and has commissioned a major redesign that saw the two main residences link up with a mutual courtyard, creating a ten-bedroom home. Out of a total of 25 bedrooms, Jones has resided in a two-bedroom wing with a formal and informal living and dining room, a central living room and a home office, while his niece Tonia Taylor and her family have lived in a wing with eight bedrooms, a rumpus room, and central living and dining room. While the home was recently marketed based on its equestrian facilities, it also boasts a tennis court and pavilion built for Taylor and her tennis coach husband, as well as a separate two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage, and a “hootenanny” shed. The property also features landscaped gardens, a private natural forest called Wombat Woods, life-sized elephant and giraffe sculptures, and an ornamental lake and island with dyed water. With the sale of the Fitzroy Falls farm, Jones’ portfolio consists of his Circular Quay apartment purchased for $10.5 million in 2017, as well as his riverfront home in Southport, which he paid $12.25 million for in 2021. Images: Getty Images, Inglis Rural Property

Real Estate

Farm shooter had gun ban revoked

The farmer who allegedly shot at four family members killing three of them actually had his gun ban revoked. Darryl Young is accused of murdering three of his neighbours following a dispute of boundary lines on their land in Bogie, near Collinsville in Queensland. However, court documents have revealed that the 59-year-old had his gun ban revoked almost a decade ago after a successful appeal saying he needed it for his “business”. According to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Young was granted his gun licence in 1992, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/for-my-business-alleged-farm-massacre-culprit-darryl-youngs-prior-police-stoush-over-gun-licence-revealed/news-story/5d29e6d9f1922a2d4009f8d17eb60ea1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> reported. Young was allowed to hold four rifles and two shotguns with his licence. Then in 2010, Young went to renew his licence but Queensland Police refused on the basis that it was “not in the public interest”. In his response to the refusal, Young explained that he needed the licence to control the feral animals on his farm. “There is no were (sic) in the laws of the gun laws that I have broken to stop me having a gun licence,” his application read. “I need my gun licence for my business. I hope the Tribunal over turns (sic) the decision so I can have my licence.” The tribunal accepted Young’s explanation which saw him get his licence again. Last week, in matters unrelated, Young was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/man-accused-of-shooting-family-of-four-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged with the murder</a> of his neighbours Mervyn, 71, Maree Schwarz, 59, and their son Graham Tighe, 35, following a dispute of boundary lines on their land in Bogie near Collinsville in Queensland. He was also charged with one count of attempted murder after Mervyn and Maree’s other son Ross Tighe survived following a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police will allege Young invited the three members to the edge of his property on August 4 before shooting them “execution style”. Young allegedly shot at Ross who managed to escape the farm in a ute and alert police to the horrific attack against his family. Police charged Young with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and he appeared briefly at Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday with his lawyer asking for the case to be transferred. Young was reprimanded in custody and will reappear in court on November 1. Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt said it was incredible Ross was able to survive due to the properties being so far apart. “It’s actually a 45-minute drive between the neighbours,” he said. “At the crime scene, which is at the front gate of one of the premises, it is a 3km drive between the gate and the house at that location.” Images: 7News

Legal

Not so innocent: Detail in cute puppy pic reveals Melissa Caddick’s huge profits

A previously unnoticed detail in an innocent photograph has revealed the eye-watering amount accused fraudster Melissa Caddick was making from her alleged crimes per day. Caddick sent the photo of her pet dog posing in her home office to one of her victims, according to the podcast Liar Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions. After zooming in on the notepad on Caddick’s desk, it can be seen that “$46K per day” was written under the heading “Average Profits” between April 27 and May 27. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/smh-cadddick.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Zooming in on the photograph reveals the record sums Melissa Caddick was making. Image: The Sydney Morning Herald Kate McClymont, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age journalist who hosts the podcast, <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melissa-caddick-podcast-how-a-cute-dog-photo-provided-a-clue-to-her-staggering-profits/4474e72b-e7f2-4472-902a-fa3ee10029bd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Today</a> that these kinds of discoveries showed how clues could be “hiding in plain sight”. “The person that provided me with that photo is one of, not only Melissa’s victims, but she worked one day a week for Melissa,” McClymont said. “So she is sitting there day after day seeing all of these things, but it wasn’t until after Melissa disappeared and the Herald broke the story saying she was running a Ponzi scheme, they didn’t realise they were all victims.” In May 2020 alone, Caddick made a whopping $1.426 million profit - and her case has since captured the nation’s attention. Her home in Sydney’s east was raided by federal police on behalf of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in November 2020, and it was suspected she had fleeced millions of dollars from her victims - mostly friends and family - to fund her lifestyle. Caddick then disappeared a day after the raid. Months later, the remains of her foot inside a running shoe washed up on a beach on the NSW South Coast. An inquest into her death will commence in September, and McClymont told Today it could dispel some mysteries surrounding how she died. “Already I have heard that some of her victims have been interviewed by the police to provide alibis,” she said. The journalist added that a forensic pathologist would hopefully be able to determine if Caddick’s foot was cut off or had deteriorated in the ocean. “Until we hear from a forensic pathologist, that is still one of the big mysteries in this case.” To read the full story and hear the Liar Liar episode, click <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-a-puppy-picture-revealed-melissa-caddick-s-stunning-46-000-per-day-profit-20220429-p5ahbm.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Nine

Legal

John Travolta's son adopts puppy from the Oscars ceremony

Mac n Cheese, the adorable rescue pup who stole hearts worldwide during an Oscars tribute segment for actress Betty White, has been rescued by none other than John Travolta’s son, Ben. The adorable little man was cradled by actress Jamie Lee Curtis in the 'In Memoriam' segment on Monday's ceremony when she spoke lovingly about the late Golden Girl star's love for animals. In her speech, Curtis said White's fans can honour her legacy by adopting a rescue dog like Mac N Cheese. Curtis didn't have to tell the Travolta family twice, as their home was already open to the little pooch, who they rescued from Paw Works: a nonprofit rescue organisation in Thousand Oaks, California. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqosEVpIGj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqosEVpIGj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta)</a> </div> </blockquote> "Ben adopted this dog from last night's Oscar tribute to Betty White. Thank you @curtisleejamie & @pawworks," the actor captioned a happy snap of 11-year-old Ben cuddling their new family member. Travolta and Curtis are long time friends.They starred alongside each other in the 1984 romantic comedy Perfect, and on Monday they reconnected backstage. "A MAGICAL ending to the story from last night," Curtis posted on Instagram as she shared Travolta's photo. "At the Oscars I reconnected with my friend, John Travolta. @johntravolta We starred together in the movie PERFECT back in 1984. I had already left the Dolby theater last night after honoring Betty White and was on my way home when someone texted me a photo of John holding little mac & cheese in the green room before his presentation of the best actor Oscar." "I thought it was so beautiful to see him with her and then today I found out that he and his son, Ben have adopted beautiful little mac & cheese and are taking her home today," Curtis concluded. "It is an emotional end and a perfect tribute to Betty White." Images: Getty

Family & Pets

The bid to stamp out puppy mills for good

A bill to ban intensive puppy farming in NSW hits fierce opposition from the state’s peak body for dog breeders, who insist the rules are “heavy-handed” and would hurt responsible breeders. The Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill in 2021, a signature policy of Animal Justice Party upper house member Emma Hurst, would limit breeders of cats and dogs to a maximum of 10 breeding females, consistent with Victorian legislation. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by independent MP Alex Greenwich in the lower house, would also limit female cats and dogs to two litters, cap the age of male dogs used for breeding at six years old, and require a ratio of one staff member to every five animals. “Puppy farms” or “puppy mills” refers to the intensive factory farming of dogs for the pet trade industry, often in huge sheds on rural properties. The problem has increased during the pandemic. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has confirmed many intensive breeders moved across the border to NSW after Victoria passed legislation. “We’ve got these massive, large-scale puppy farms right here in NSW - somebody could have hundreds of female dogs and force them to pump out litter after litter for their entire lives,” Ms Hurst said. “The pandemic puppy buying has really exploded the issue of puppy farms where people are able to make a huge amount of money because a lot of these dogs are selling for thousands of dollars each.” Ms Hurst said the dogs often had behavioural issues from poor socialisation and health problems from in-breeding. Dogs NSW president Lyn Brand said the legislation would affect good breeders, while not reducing underground puppy farming. “We’re happy to cooperate with eradicating puppy farms - they’re abhorrent,” Ms Brand said. “But they’re untraceable because a lot of the people who are puppy farming don’t microchip all their puppies, and they’re meeting people in car parks to hand over the puppies.” She said the limit of 10 breeding females would include animals that are not used for breeding but kept for shows - they would be disqualified from shows if desexed - and puppies that are older than 12 months. She also said limiting the number of litters could reduce genetic diversity in purebred dogs. Dogs NSW recently started a petition on Change.org, warning the bill could “prevent normal families from getting their family pet from a reputable, responsible breeder”. Ms Hurst’s response, accusing Dogs NSW of providing “false and misleading information”, was sent to everyone who signed the petition and is posted underneath. Ms Hurst has also had a petition in support of the bill on her website for several months and there are nearly 43,000 signatures so far. Image: Getty

Family & Pets

Prince William and Kate's new puppy reveal

James Middletown has shared an adorable snap featuring Prince William and Kate’s new puppy. The Duchess of Cambridge's younger brother gifted the royals their new furry friend, which came from a litter birthed by his own dog Luna. James shared the sweet pictures from when his dog Luna gave birth to a litter of six cocker spaniels in 2020. One of the six pups photographed was Kate and Prince William's, whom they received before their dog Lupo died in November 2020. The photos were posted alongside a caption in which James spoke about welcoming a dog into the family. It is believed that the royals' new pet, whose name is not publicly known, is a black puppy – the same colour as Lupo. In 2012, the year before Prince George's birth, James gifted Kate with Lupo, who is the brother of Luna – the mother of the duo's current pet. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/Royal-dogs.jpg" alt="" width="778" height="429" /> James, a dog lover and owner of six canines, touched on helping his sister welcome their new dog. "Over the years I've helped many friends, family and followers come to the right decision on adding a four-legged addition to the family," he wrote. In a related post, he reflected on his childhood with Kate saying, "I was 11 when we got our first family dog, Tilly, and I remember all of the feelings of excitement and nervousness like it was yesterday!" While not many details have been released about the Duke and Duchess' new dog, they did reveal that she's a girl during a January visit to a community hospital where they met a cockapoo puppy named Alfie. While holding Alfie, Kate joked, "Our dog is going to be very upset. She's going to be like, 'Where have you been?'" Images: Getty & Instagram

Family & Pets

Special Forces veteran delivers heartfelt plea over stolen puppy

Special Forces veteran Luke Evans has launched an emotional appeal after his seven-week old puppy was stolen from his doggy daycare farm on Monday morningThe father-of-three set up the farm on NSW's Central Coast three years ago with the help of his wife following 11 years of service in the navy to help him cope with his PTSD. The farm offers daycare for pets and also works to rehabilitate and find forever homes for rescue dogs. The dogs, who were all secret inside at the time of the theft, began barking around 4am to alert the couple that something was wrong. The navy veteran got up to check out the commotion, but didn't find out of the ordinary. It wasn't the next morning that Luke realised one of their beautiful blue-eyed Australian Shepherd-husky cross litter pups was missing. The puppy was taken from a seperate room where the litter was being kept away from the larger dogs during the night. "This little male pup that has been taken is just 7 weeks old, incredibly cute, two bright blue eyes and perfect Blue Merle and White markings," the family wrote online."The little one is microchipped and the number has been reported as stolen.""We sincerely hope that someone might make the right decision to hand him in somewhere. Or perhaps someone might recognise him and let the police know.""We are heartbroken. Numb. Terribly deflated. So many emotions right now. Disappointed. Disbelief. Concerned. Upset. Angry. Lost," the post read. The 37-year-old navy veteran suspects the thief had been watching his daycare's YouTube channel, where he shares updates on his animals and an insight into their life on the farm, in order to plan the daring heist.Following the theft, the farm has been set up with extra security measures including multiple cameras and alarms to keep their animals safe.Image credits: Facebook - Doggy Daycare Farm Trips

Family & Pets

Restaurant in strife for accepting puppy pics instead of vaccination proof

A restaurant in Canada was ordered to temporarily cease its indoor dining services after it was discovered that customers were being allowed a seat after presenting cute dog photos instead of proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or negative test results, health officials said.Alberta Health Services issued the closure order Friday after it investigated complaints about the Granary Kitchen in Red Deer.Two investigators posing as customers visited the restaurant at different times after providing photos and personal identification to restaurant staff, the agency said in the order.“In both instances, facility staff used a tablet to make it appear as if they were scanning a QR code, when in fact the staff member was presented with a photograph of a dog,” the agency said.“The staff member then proceeded to ask the test shopper for personal identification and offered dine-in services.” The restaurant was ordered to close its indoor dining area and submit a written COVID-19 compliance plan that follows the province’s indoor dining rules.In a Facebook post Friday, the restaurant called the incident “an unfortunate circumstance at our front door which involved one of our underage hostesses”.“We are taking the weekend to retrain and regroup,” the restaurant said.“We look forward to serving you again as soon as we are ready to reopen."In closing we would like to remind everyone of the tremendous pressure being placed on front staff, and please remember to be kind.”Image: Getty

Food & Wine

‘Neighbours’ star Ryan Moloney lists sprawling farm for sale

Australian TV star Ryan Moloney, known for his role as Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi on Neighbours, has put his luxurious acreage on the market with hopes of selling for $7.5-$8 million. The actor and his wife Alison are selling their four-bedroom home that sits on a 4.33-hectare block in Merricks on the Mornington Peninsula in southeastern Melbourne. Highlights of the property include a pool, gym, half basketball court, barn, riding arena and stables. According to CoreLogic records, the Moloneys have owned the property since 2015. The couple said they had loved “watching the storms roll in from the south or (the) sunrises in the east” through the home’s expansive windows. “The house is designed to create a connection with the outdoors, and the quietness and seclusion is perfect for our lifestyles to relax and unwind,” the couple <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/ryan-moloney-toadie-neighbours-actor-lists-luxe-merricks-property/?rsf=syn:news:nca:news:spa" target="_blank">said</a>. Though Moloney has starred in the Aussie soap opera since 1995, he also spends his time operating a beekeeping and honey business, Beach Box Honey, with Alison from their farm. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWug4cpA3DT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWug4cpA3DT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Neighbours (@neighbours)</a> </div> </blockquote> The property is also quite close to the beach, which Homes and Acreage director Grant Perry said was a rare thing for acreages in the area. “It will really appeal to someone with horses,” he said. “You can ride straight out from the property down to Balnarring Beach, where you are allowed to ride on the beach.” The sprawling property also scores points for eco-friendliness, with solar panels, its own dam, orchard, chook pen, and 280,000 litres of water storage. The “virtually off-grid” home would also suit a buyer looking for a “walk-in” property, Mr Perry said, since it doesn’t require any renovations. Mr Perry said Merricks was becoming one of the Mornington Peninsula’s standout suburbs, due to its quieter coastal lifestyle and shorter commute to Melbourne than hotspots such as Portsea or Sorrento. Images: Getty Images, Realestate.com

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Manhunt after masked figures steal puppy from backyard