Cases scheduled for court hearings in October 2023
A man from Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs is charged with one count of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to a failure to provide appropriate and adequate food to his bull mastiff dog. The animal had a BCS of 1/9 but recovered after it was seized by the RSPCA and has been rehomed.
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 52-year-old man from Adelaide's northern suburbs is due to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on two charges of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to two dogs, one of which was in need of urgent veterinary treatment. The defendant is facing further ill-treatment charges in relation to two cats and a pig.
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 from regarding eleven dogs from November 2022.
A man from the Fleurieu Peninsula is due to face the Christies Beach Magistrates Court charged with animal ill-treatment after a cat and two kittens were found living in squalid and unsanitary conditions within a unit strewn with rubbish and faeces.
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 which resulted in the dog needing to be humanely euthanased after seizure.
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.
A man and a woman are due to face the Whyalla Magistrates court on two counts of ill-treatment of an animal after a female dog and her seven puppies were found in emaciated condition. In addition to allegedly failing to provide appropriate and adequate nutrition to the animals, the defendants are alleged to have failed to seek veterinary treatment for severe ring worm. All the dogs were surrendered and rehomed, except for one puppy who was humanely euthanased due to being found in an extremely poor condition.
A woman is due to appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court to face three counts of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to three horses, all found in emaciated condition on a property in the East Murray District near Mannum.
A 53-year-old man from the northern suburbs is due to face the Elizabeth Magistrate Court charged with failure to take reasonable steps to mitigate harm. The defendant is charged with failing to obtain veterinary treatment for his cat, which was found suffering a tumour in its right eye that caused the eye globe to rupture. Charges for two additional kittens who were suffering from untreated illness were also laid.
A 31-year-old woman from the north-eastern suburbs will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with ill-treatment of a puppy and a cat. Both animals were found in an emaciated state.
A woman from the north-eastern suburbs will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with an offence from October 2019 for a dog found in an emaciated state. The matter was delayed due to the accused having a warrant issued after a non-attendance at Court.
A couple in their 40s is due to face 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 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 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.
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.
