Cases scheduled for court hearings in December 2023
A 40-year-old woman from the north-eastern suburbs is 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. She is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court this month.
A 46-year-old man from the northern suburbs is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with animal ill-treatment in relation to a Beagle cross dog found in emaciated condition and with a large, ulcerated and infected tumour protruding from her abdomen. Due to the dog’s extremely poor condition and prognosis, she was humanely euthanased after seizure. The defendant is charged with failing to seek veterinary treatment for the animal.
A 35-year-old woman from the northern suburbs is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with failing to provide appropriate and adequate living conditions and failing to adequately feed her dog. The three-year-old female crossbreed dog was found allegedly abandoned inside a squalid house at Elizabeth East and remains in protective custody with RSPCA.
A woman from the western suburbs is due to face the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on two counts of animal ill treatment in relation to four dogs in the defendant’s care. All of the dogs were found in an emaciated state with one of them recently deceased at the property. The three surviving dogs were rehabilitated in RSPCA’s care and rehomed.
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.
A 47-year-old man is due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with ill-treatment of an animal in relation to the discovery of a deceased Siberian Husky dog inside a wheelie bin at a Port Pirie property.
A 60-year-old man from the southern suburbs will face the Christies Beach Magistrates Court charged with ill-treatment of an animal to cause death or serious harm. The charge relates to a male Boxer dog found with a large, ulcerated tumour protruding from his sternum. Due to the dog’s extremely poor condition and prognosis, he was humanely euthanased after seizure.
A 48-year-old woman is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with failure to comply with a court order restricting the number of animals she is allowed to have in her care or custody. RSPCA SA Inspectors attended at the woman’s Lewiston property on 17 October and seized 86 dogs and puppies, three rabbits and two guinea pigs. In August, the woman was convicted on animal ill-treatment charges in relation to a Parrakie dog breeding facility that had more than 300 dogs and puppies. She received a three-month prison term, suspended on condition of a $500, three-year good behaviour bond.
A 33-year-old man and 28-year-old woman are due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with ill treatment of an animal in relation to an emaciated five-year-old kelpie found at their former residence in Gawler East. The attending RSPCA inspector who seized the dog and took it to an emergency vet also found a deceased, emaciated cat at the property. No charges were laid in relation to the approximately 10-year-old cat as the cause of death was inconclusive. The dog has recovered and been forfeited by the court to RSPCA.
A couple from the northern suburbs are due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court in relation to a two-year-old male dog found in a state of extreme emaciation. The alleged offence occurred in 2019 but the couple failed to appear when due in court in 2020 and were arrested recently under warrant. The Staffordshire Terrier cross recovered and was rehomed.
A trial continues in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court with a female defendant charged with ill treatment of an animal in relation to a Standardbred horse that was found emaciated and suffering from a chronic and painful medical condition. The horse was euthanised on humane grounds.
A 58-year-old man from the Murraylands region is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on nine counts of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to nine dogs, all found in emaciated condition and suffering severe and chronic skin conditions. The defendant is charged with failing to mitigate harm suffered by the animals, two of which were humanely euthanased due to multiple health issues.
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 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.
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.
