A 70-year-old Windsor woman was sentenced following a plea of guilty atWindsor Local Court on 28 June 2019 in relation to one offence for failing toprovide veterinary treatment to two of her horses in November 2018.
A conviction was recorded and a 12 month community release order imposedsubject to conditions that she be of good behaviour. The horse was orderedinto RSPCA NSW’s custody, and veterinary costs of $2822.50 awarded.
The Court heard in agreed facts tendered on sentence that on 3 November 2018,an RSPCA NSW Inspector attended a property in Freemans Reach to investigate acomplaint in relation to the condition of horses on the property.
The inspector located an adult Arab mare, Alena, who appeared to be in a verypoor body condition with all hip, pin, spine and rib bones prominent, she hadrainscald – including infected sores across the wither, top line and bothsides of the rump area.
A second horse, a Bay Anglo Gelding, Shah, was observed by the inspector to bein poor body condition with pin, hip and spine bones clearly visible.
A registered veterinarian was called to attend the property and ultimately thetwo horses were seized so they could be provided with immediate veterinarytreatment.
The veterinarian determined that both horses were very underweight and in astate of extreme debilitation and neglect. Alena weighed 238kg, 162kg underthe estimated ideal weight of 400kg. She was treated for dental disease andsevere rain scald.
Shah weighed 406kg, 94kg under the estimated ideal weight of 500kg, and wastreated for lice. He was also treated for extremely advanced dental disease,
On 15 November 2018 the Windsor woman was informed that the Arab mare wasfound to be in liver and heart failure, the subject horse was surrendered andeuthanised later that day.
Shah has since made a full recovery in the 8 months under RSPCA NSW care, andnow weighs 464kg.
RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers has commented that “RSPCA NSW remindsowners that age is not an illness, but older animals may need more veterinarytreatment rather than less.
Horses make wonderful pets, but they are a lifelong commitment. Owners mustseek veterinary treatment for their animals so that outcomes like Alena’s canbe avoided.”
An appeal against the severity of sentence has been lodged in the DistrictCourt in July.
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