Cases scheduled for court hearings in February 2024
A 39-year-old 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.
Two female defendants from a regional town north of Adelaide will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court on cruelty charges relating to a large number of dogs, cats, native animals and birds found in poor condition and being kept in squalid conditions in November 2020. The majority of the animals recovered and have now been rehomed after the defendants surrendered them. The two accused are also charged with further offending regarding eleven dogs seized in November 2022.
A couple in their 40s is due at 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 SA 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 also accused of breaching a 12-month suspended sentence bond ordered in October 2021, after they were convicted for failing to provide sufficient food to two other dogs in their care that were also found in emaciated condition in 2020. Those two dogs were also rehomed. Part of the 2021 sentence was a court order prohibiting them from acquiring or having custody of any animals until further order, which they are now accused of breaching.
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 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 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 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.
