A 42-year-old woman was convicted and given a suspended prison sentence in the Berri Magistrate Court today for breaching a 2021 court order imposed after she was found guilty of serious animal cruelty offences.
In addition to that conviction, the woman was also convicted today for a cruelty offence she committed in 2023 in relation to four guinea pigs found living in squalid conditions inside a house at Renmark.
A 40-year-old man who was living in the house at the time plead guilty at a previous hearing to a charge of ill-treatment of an animal in relation to four cats that were being kept in squalid and unsanitary conditions. He was sentenced on 10 September 2024 to a 12-month good behaviour bond.
In court today, the woman plead guilty to a charge of ill-treatment of the four guinea pigs and received the same penalty.
A court order made in the same court on 1 December 2021 had forbid the woman from owning or having custody of any animals after she was found guilty of four counts of ill-treatment of an animal. (The 2021 conviction followed an RSPCA South Australia inspector's discovery, at a different Renmark property, of a deceased cat inside an aviary, as well as an emaciated dog – also contained inside an aviary – and two kittens without appropriate and adequate food, water and living conditions.)
Magistrate Melanie Burton today agreed with the view of RSPCA SA's legal counsel that the breaching of the 2021 court order was the more serious offence. Her Honour resentenced the accused to 21-days imprisonment, which was suspended on a twelve-month bond, and reimposed the prohibition order against the accused having custody of any animals.
Today's sentencing outcome resulted from a cruelty report made to RSPCA SA's inspectorate about the living conditions of animals at the Renmark property. A warrant was obtained for access to the residence, and on 3 May 2023 an RSPCA SA inspector attended at the property accompanied by SA Police.
The four guinea pigs were found inside cages with floors covered in faeces, and the four cats were found inside a bedroom with no water and a large amount of faeces on the floor. The defendant agreed to surrender the guinea pigs as well as a green tree frog, but she told the inspector that the cats belonged to the male occupant of the house. Due to the poor living conditions, the cats were seized and transported with the other animals to RSPCA SA's Lonsdale shelter.
All the animals have been rehomed except one cat, which remains in foster care but is now able to be rehomed following today's court decision.
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.
