Inspectorate Updates

RSPCA NSW has received reports of cruelty relating to a video posted on social media depicting a miniature pony located in Lismore, NSW. The actions depicted in the video obviously caused fear and distress in the pony. In addition, overloading a horse or pony has the potential to cause serious physical injury. RSPCA NSW completely condemns this sort of conduct with any animal. This matter has been investigated, and we have sought expert veterinary advice, as a result of which appropriate enforcement action has been undertaken. Members of the public who witness and have evidence of ongoing cruelty should contact RSPCA NSW on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589) or online via rspcansw.org/reportcruelty.

Warning: Images may be graphic to some readers. A 44-year-old Wyong man who was previously convicted of two counts of animal cruelty for neglecting his dog successfully appealed the severity of his sentence at Gosford District Court on 27 May 2020. In October 2019, having entered a plea of guilty, the man was convicted of committing an act of aggravated cruelty and of failing to provide veterinary treatment to his pet dog. The dog, a male four-year-old brindle English Staffordshire Terrier, had a large tumour growing on his face that was untreated for more than a year because the man could not afford veterinary costs.  The Court confirmed the conviction and the orders of the Local Court, but varied the conditions attached to the six months Intensive Corrections Order to remove the home detention condition. In lieu of home detention, the Court imposed conditions that the man participate in any program or treatment plan as directed by Community Corrections, and report by telephone to Wyong Community Corrections. The man was directed to complete a mental health treatment plan with a general practitioner. The Court confirmed the order prohibiting the defendant from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of any animal…

The RSPCA NSW Inspectorate wants to remind animal owners that using, selling or possessing an electric collar device – otherwise known as ‘shock collars’ or ‘barking collars’ – is an offence under Section 16 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. The maximum penalty for an offence contrary to this provision is a $27,500.00 fine for a corporation or a $5,500 fine and/or six months imprisonment in respect of an individual. Such an offence can also be dealt with by way of on the spot fines of $500 for an individual. Electric boundary systems and ‘Pingg Strings’ used to contain cats and dogs are only legal if they are used inside a fence through which dogs or cats cannot pass and that is 1.5 metres high. ‘A pervasive issue’ RSPCA NSW Inspector Russell is called out to cruelty complaints relating to these devices at least once a month – in some situations, finding multiple pets on one property…

A 77-year-old Bendoura woman was convicted and sentenced at Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday 27 April 2020. She had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of failing to provide veterinary treatment for dental disease, ear infections, underweight animals and conjunctivitis, as well as to one charge of committing an act of cruelty and one charge of committing an act of aggravated cruelty to an animal. The woman was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, to be served by way of Intensive Corrections Order. The Court ordered that all 23 seized dogs, and 11 puppies born in custody were forfeited to RSPCA NSW and prohibited the defendant from owning or breeding dogs for a period of 10 years, except for one de-sexed companion animal. $171,085.95 in veterinary and shelter costs were ordered to be paid to RSPCA NSW. In an agreed fact document tendered on sentence, the Court heard that on Tuesday 30 July 2019, RSPCA NSW Inspectors attended the Bendoura property in…

A 56-year-old Illawong man was convicted and sentenced at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 5 March 2020, following pleas of guilty to five counts of failing to provide veterinary treatment to his two dogs, ‘Buddy’ and ‘Rusty’, as well as one offence of committing an act of aggravated cruelty to Buddy the Old English Sheepdog. He was sentenced to a 2-year Conditional Release Order, subject to conditions that he is of good behaviour and appears before the Court if called upon to do so. The Court further ordered the man to report to Sutherland Police Station within 24 hours for the purposes of fingerprinting. The man was fined $5,250.00 with moiety awarded to RSPCA NSW and ordered to pay RSPCA NSW an additional $1,590.71 in veterinary and shelter costs.  He also received a prohibition order banning him from purchasing, acquiring, or taking possession or custody of any animal for ten years, with no exceptions, confirming that a third dog which…

A 25-year-old University of New South Wales student was convicted on 19 February 2020 at Downing Centre Local Court for two animal cruelty offences after his one-year-old Maremma Sheepdog, Milk, was left to die of starvation on his Kingsford unit balcony. For the charge of committing an act of aggravated cruelty, the man was given an indicative sentence of 16 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of eight months. For the charge of failing to provide veterinary treatment for emaciation, he was sentenced to a further four months’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently. He was also banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any animal for ten years. NSW Local Court Chief Magistrate, Judge Henson, determined that the offences were at the top of the range in terms of objective seriousness among acts of animal cruelty, and that the defendant’s moral culpability in committing the offences was towards the highest level, stating the defendant’s conduct was “egregious”…

Repeat animal cruelty offender and founder of Northern NSW animal rescue Happy Paws Haven was convicted and sentenced at Ballina Local Court on 11 February 2020 of two counts of failing to provide necessary veterinary treatment to eight cats under her care. The 69-year-old woman, who was previously convicted of animal cruelty offences in 2017, was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order, subject to the conditions that during the term of the order she be of good behaviour and appears before the court if required. She was ordered to forfeit custody of the eight cats within 28 days and was banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any feline for a period of two years. She was also ordered to pay costs of $11,462 to RSPCA NSW. On 31 July 2017, a team of RSPCA inspectors and veterinarians attended the woman’s Eatonsville property, where they assessed the condition of 58 cats and kittens. Every cat was…

A 33-year-old Emerton man pleaded guilty to one offence of committing an act of cruelty and one offence of failing to provide veterinary treatment to his pet Staffordshire Terrier in Mt Druitt Local Court on 16 October 2019. The man was convicted and placed on an aggregate four-month intensive corrections order in relation to charges that he committed an act of cruelty on his Staffordshire Terrier, named Dwayne, by beating him with a hammer, and then failed to provide veterinary treatment for blunt force trauma injuries the dog received as a result of the beating. The order is subject to conditions that he complete 50 hours community service work, be of good behaviour, and appear if called upon to do so. A breach of this order could result in the Parole Board revoking the order and he would be required to serve the remainder of the term in custody. He received a five year prohibition order preventing him from purchasing, acquiring,…

A 29-year-old Hebersham woman was convicted and sentenced in Mount Druitt Local Court on Tuesday 17 December 2019, following pleas of guilty to failing to provide veterinary treatment for emaciation to three dogs and failing to provide veterinary treatment for periodontal disease to two dogs in her care. The woman was sentenced to a 12-month Conditional Release Order subject to conditions that she is of good behaviour and appears before the court if called upon to do so. The Court further ordered the woman to report to Mount Druitt Police Station within 24 hours for the purposes of fingerprinting. Custody of the three dogs were forfeited to RSPCA NSW and she was ordered to pay veterinary and shelter costs of $15,733.72 to RSPCA NSW as well as pay RSPCA NSW’s legal costs of $157.27. She also received a prohibition order banning her from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of any animal for two years, excluding one Rottweiler cross and…

A 55-year-old Prairiewood man was convicted and sentenced at Fairfield Local Court on 22 January 2020 for aggravated cruelty towards his German Shepherd dog. The man was fined $2,000.00 and ordered to pay $717.00 in veterinary costs to RSPCA NSW. He was also banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any animal for a period of five years. On 17 January 2019, an RSPCA inspector entered the backyard of a Prairiewood property and found a male black and tan German Shepherd in very poor body condition. The dog’s ears were severely fly-bitten and appeared disfigured. He had bleeding wounds on both hind feet and had difficulty walking. The inspector deemed the dog to be high risk and seized him for immediate examination and treatment. When the inspector attempted to transfer the dog to her vehicle, the dog collapsed and had to be carried. The dog was taken to RSPCA’s Sydney Veterinary Hospital for urgent assessment. The examining…

A 56-year-old man was convicted and sentenced at Liverpool Local Court on 17 January 2020 for committing an act of aggravated cruelty towards his pet dog. The man was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, subject to the conditions that during the term of the order he be of good behaviour and appears before the court if required. He was fined $1,000 with moiety awarded to RSPCA NSW, and banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any animal for a period of five years. He was also ordered to attend Liverpool Police Station for fingerprinting. On 18 December 2018, RSPCA inspectors attended a Green Valley home where they found a severely emaciated little dog, a white Maltese Terrier crossbreed, lying on the ground. The dog was immobile and did not react as the inspectors approached. He had a large wound on his back covered in flies and pus. The inspectors were told that the dog had…

A 37-year-old man from Edensor Park failed to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday 17 September 2019 in relation to five offences of animal cruelty against his two dogs. The man was convicted in his absence and fined $2500 for each charge in relation to a failure to provide proper and sufficient food, failure to provide veterinary treatment for poor body condition, dehydration, severely fly-bitten ears and periodontal disease. In addition to the fines the defendant was banned from purchasing, acquiring, or taking possession or custody of any animal for five years and ordered to pay veterinary costs of $3108 with moiety to RSPCA NSW. He was also ordered to report to police for the purposes of fingerprinting. In a fact sheet tendered on sentence, the Court heard that at an inspection of the man’s property on 19 January 2019, an RSPCA inspector found two Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossbreed dogs, one tan and one brindle, with protruding hips, ribs…

A 36-year-old Muswellbrook woman entered pleas of guilty, was convicted and sentenced in Muswellbrook Local Court on 4 September 2019 for committing multiple acts of cruelty towards her two pet dogs and flock of chickens, which resulted in the deaths of three chickens. The woman was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order for the charges of failing to provide veterinary treatment for emaciation, fleas and intestinal worms to the dogs, and for committing an act of aggravated cruelty towards the three chickens that died. For failing to provide veterinary treatment to the emaciated chickens she was fined $2000, and for failing to provide them veterinary treatment for lice and mites she was fined $1,000. She was banned from purchasing, acquiring, or taking possession or custody of any animal for five years and ordered to pay veterinary costs of $2913.71 with moiety to RSPCA NSW. She was also ordered to report to police for the purposes of fingerprinting, and to…

At RSPCA NSW, we believe education is key to preventing animal cruelty. If we can teach people how to identify and stop cruelty in the first place, we will reduce the number of animals who need our help and, we hope, eliminate animal abuse. With this in mind, RSPCA NSW educators regularly visit juvenile detention centres across the state to teach the inmates about RSPCA NSW and how they can make a positive difference to the lives of animals.   Each presentation is tailored to the ages of the juveniles and dependant on their engagement with the session. But the Education Team is always sure to tell the participants about RSPCA NSW and our role in the community. They discuss the issues surrounding animal welfare, including defining what the term ‘cruelty’ means. They also teach them to recognise and act when they see cruelty occurring, and tell them about the law and the penalties involved if this is broken. During visits to Cobham…