A 41-year-old Kooringal woman was convicted and sentenced in her absence atWagga Wagga Local Court on 21 July 2021 after pleading guilty to multipleanimal cruelty charges.
The charges included failing to provide veterinary treatment and failing toprovide proper and sufficient food to three horses in poor body condition.
RSPCA NSW attended a Lake Albert property on 3 June 2021 after the defendantfailed to comply with previously issued instructions relating to seven horsesand ponies in her care.
An external veterinarian and an RSPCA NSW inspector found the horses locatedwithin a single, barren paddock on the property. There were no visible signsof drinking water or edible material, and it was infested with Paterson’sCurse, a weed that is toxic to horses, causing gut inflammation, decreasedliver function, and eventual death if excessively consumed.
The skeletal outline of one Appaloosa stallion in the paddock was visible tothe inspector and vet from a distance.
The Appaloosa stallion, a Paint Horse stallion and a Palomino mare werepromptly transported to the Sydney University Equine Hospital for urgentveterinary treatment of severe rain scald, gum ulcerations, and to investigatetheir poor body condition.
The horses were determined to be in poor body condition, with the vetassessing them as being 1.5/5 where 1 is emaciated and 5 is overweight. ThePaint Horse stallion and Palomino mare had to be monitored closely forpotential liver failure.
Each horse gradually gained over 50 kilograms in weight following theiradmission to the clinic.
RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers said, “The defendant had theopportunity to help these animals but chose to deny them the care they needand deserve”.
“Providing your animals with adequate food and water is a responsibility allpet owners need to fulfil.”
The defendant was fined $3000.00 and ordered to pay $8,973.90 in veterinary,shelter, and court costs. She was also prohibited from purchasing, acquiring,taking possession or custody of any horse for a 12-month period.
Image: Hips and tailbone prominent with condition rainscalding present.
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