RSPCA Tasmania has initiated an independent review into whether former workers at a dog breeding facility, some of whom have spoken to the ABC as whistleblowers, can be criminally prosecuted.

Warning: This story contains details of alleged mistreatment of animals that readers may find distressing.

It comes after charges against the owners of Tasmanian Labradoodles, Paul and Elizabeth Bartlett, were dropped by the RSPCA in July this year in exchange for the facility closing and the surrender of all its dogs.

The RSPCA first brought 70 charges for overbreeding against the Bartletts in early 2023.

The charges related to alleged overbreeding of their dogs between April 2021 and February 2023.

Since the facility in northern Tasmania's closure, the ABC has interviewed and spoken with a number of former staff who worked at the facility between 2013 and 2017.

It was not until the ABC approached the RSPCA for comment about the whistleblower reports that it initiated a review into whether anyone who worked at the puppy farm could be prosecuted.

The ABC has chosen not to name any of the whistleblowers.

'The RSPCA is now in damage control,' former dog worker says

One former worker said he self-reported to the RSPCA about what he saw and was asked to do while working at the facility, but no action was taken.

"I called the RSPCA six times over the 18 months I worked there and nothing was ever done," he said.

"All I did was go to work and do what I was told to do.

"It feels like the RSPCA is now in damage control, they took no action so they're trying to pass the blame onto us."

Worker told to put live puppies into freezer

The worker told the ABC they were asked by the Bartletts to put live puppies in a freezer.

These puppies were often born with medical issues that meant they were not compatible with life, or they developed severe health conditions later on.

Another worker said he witnessed many acts of cruelty, including the dogs being kicked, hit with PVC pipe, and puppies being shaken. 

The ABC also spoke to another former worker who said on his first day he saw a dead dog dragged along the floor and put into a freezer. 

"That image still sticks in my head to this day, it was very confronting," he said. 

"It was easily the worst place I've ever worked."

In September, documents were obtained by the ABC which showed dogs were severely underweight, overbred, many had no shelter or official health records, and their fur was so matted they couldn't see.

A vet's report from 2020 said the dogs were kept in electrified fenced pens. She said it was "animal cruelty" to keep dogs in those pens when many were so matted they couldn't see the fence.  

The Bartletts have been contacted for comment. 

Independent report due in November

RSPCA Tasmania CEO Andrea Dawkins said an independent consultant has been appointed and a report was due by November 22. 

"The review will examine why charges were not laid at the time, and whether charges can be laid against any person or entity now," she said. 

"Tasmania's existing laws have failed us grossly in the past, and right now there is nothing stopping history from repeating itself.

The ABC has asked the RSPCA if the animal welfare organisation failed to follow up historical complaints about the labradoodle business, but it did not respond.