There are eighteen cases scheduled for court hearings in July.
A 28-year-old woman is due to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to face charges of alleged ill-treatment of three horses, found in emaciated condition on a property north of Adelaide. The horses remain in protective custody with RSPCA SA.
A 27-year-old woman is due to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to face two counts of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to two dogs found in emaciated condition at a north-eastern suburbs property. The defendant in this long running case has previously been arrested on a warrant after failing to attend court last year.
A 46-year-old woman and her 48-year-old partner are due to face the Berri Magistrates court on charges of animal ill-treatment in relation to three dogs and six puppies being allegedly kept in squalid conditions inside a small, disused toilet block in Coonalpyn. The female defendant is also charged with breaching a 2018 court order that prohibited her from acquiring more cats and with a further ten counts of animal ill-treatment for keeping cats in a filthy enclosure with so little food and water that four died. The survivors were so hungry they had begun to cannibalise the bodies of the deceased. The further alleged offending occurred whilst the defendant was on bail for the offences relating to the dogs. All surviving animals have been rehomed except one kitten that was euthanased on humane grounds due to a medical condition with a poor prognosis.
A woman from Port Pirie has two matters involving the abandonment of cats and a dog without care when she left her residence to travel on two separate occasions last year.
A 28-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man are due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on separate dates after they each plead guilty to three counts of animal ill-treatment. The pair were charged with alleged failure to adequately feed a nine-year-old mastiff cross dog, found in emaciated condition. They are also charged with alleged failure to provide appropriate and adequate living conditions to 16 cats, found living in squalid and unsanitary conditions at a property in Kilburn. Most of the animals have been surrendered and rehomed. A dog and two cats remain in protective custody with RSPCA SA.
A 52-year-old man from Adelaide’s northern suburbs is due to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on two charges of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to two dogs, one of which was in need of urgent veterinary treatment. The defendant is facing further ill-treatment charges in relation to two cats and a pig.
A woman is due to face two charges in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court, one of breaching an order prohibiting animal ownership and another of hindering an inspector in the course of their duty. The defendant is subject to a prohibition order to not have any cats in her care as a result of animal cruelty convictions in 2015.
A couple in their 40s is due to face the Christies Beach Magistrates Court to face two counts of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to two dogs, found in emaciated condition. Both dogs were surrendered to RSPCA inspectors and have been rehomed. Their adult teenage son is a co-accused in relation to the care of one of the dogs. The couple is facing a third charge of failure to comply with a court order handed down in October 2021, forbidding them from acquiring or having custody of any animal until further order.
A 57-year-old woman from the north-east suburbs is due for her first appearance in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court after being charged with two counts of animal ill-treatment in regards to a failure to seek medical attention for her dog, found suffering from an untreated ear infection and skin condition, as well as a cat found in its own waste in a cat carrier.
A woman from the north-east suburbs is due for her first appearance in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court after being charged with two counts of animal ill-treatment in regards to a failure to adequately feed a mother dog and her five puppies. The dogs were all emaciated when seized by RSPCA inspectors but have since recovered in RSPCA care.
A male defendant is due to appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court to face two counts of ill treatment of an animal in relation to a one-year-old dog found inside a filthy, small room in Murray Bridge. The dog has been rehomed.
A 72-year- old woman from the north-east suburbs is due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates court charged with two counts of aggravated ill-treatment of her elderly dog who she failed to treat for a large tumour on the dog’s back and rear leg. The dog was also suffering from severe arthritis in the rear legs and was seized by inspectors in February 2023. The dog was euthanised on humane grounds on veterinary advice due to the advanced nature of the issues as treatment was not able to improve the dog’s quality of life.
A 40-year-old woman from Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs and her former partner are facing 20 charges of ill treatment of an animal in relation to more than 60 animals, including 17 cats and a mix of rabbits, pigeons, cockatoos, lorikeets, corellas, magpies, galahs, possums, a water dragon lizard, puppies, canaries, a duck and an owl. All were allegedly being kept in unsanitary and squalid conditions. Both defendants are due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court this month.
A 58-year-old man will face Murray Bridge Magistrates Court after the RSPCA responded to notifications of concern from members of the public and encountered nine emaciated dogs with severe health issues. The man is alleged to have failed to provide adequate food or medical care to the dogs, who were heavily infested with fleas and scabies. Two of the animals were euthanised on humane grounds after seizure.
A woman from Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs is facing the Elizabeth Magistrates Court for failing to provide adequate and sanitary living conditions to her six cats and three kittens. The residence was unhygienic as it was heavily polluted with faeces.
A woman from Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs is facing the Elizabeth Magistrates Court after the RSPCA responded to notifications of concern from members of the public and encountered two emaciated cats who had to be rescued after being allegedly abandoned. Both cats have recovered after receiving appropriate nutrition.
A 41-year-old man from Adelaide’s southern suburbs is facing the Christies Beach Magistrates Court after the RSPCA seized two emaciated dogs. Despite claims that he had been feeding them adequately, the dogs put on 68% and 55% of their body weight within ten weeks.
A couple from the state’s east are facing the Berri Magistrates Court on two counts of animal ill-treatment over the living conditions of four cats and four guinea pigs that were in their care. The animals were found by an RSPCA inspector to be living in their own urine and faeces. The 41-year-old woman is further charged with breaching an earlier order prohibiting her from owning animals due to prior offending against the Animal Welfare Act.
Under SA’s Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or two years’ imprisonment. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is $50,000 or four years’ imprisonment.
RSPCA South Australia is the state’s only animal welfare charity with inspectors empowered to prosecute animal cruelty under SA’s Animal Welfare Act.
Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722.
