RSPCA Victoria Inspectors have seized a total of ten horses from an Ararat property on 25 February 2025 following a compliance check after the owner, Ms Christine Weisheit, was disqualified for five years from owning or being in charge of more than five horses in November 2024 by the County Court of Victoria.
The ten horses were taken to an RSPCA shelter to be assessed and receive any required veterinary care.
RSPCA Victoria has prosecuted Ms Weisheit on multiple occasions for animal cruelty and neglect of cats and horses under her care, most recently seizing 53 cats from the property.
This seizure is the third time she has breached a court order regarding the number of animals in her care.
In 2023 Ms Weisheit was convicted, after many years of court proceedings, of animal cruelty charges related to horses and was disqualified for life from being the owner or person in charge or any horse.
Ms Weisheit appealed this decision and in November 2024 in the County Court of Victoria, the matter was finalised with Ms Weisheit convicted, placed on a Good Behaviour Bond and disqualified from being the owner or person in charge of no more than five horses for five years
This seizure brings the total number of animals seized from this repeat animal cruelty offender to almost 400.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said the scale of repeat offending was shocking.
"Over the course of more than a decade RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate has now seized almost 400 animals from this one individual," Chief Inspector Green said.
"Her blatant disregard for court orders comes at a steep cost, not only financially to RSPCA Victoria's Inspectorate and others assisting in rescuing and caring for these animals, but also the suffering these animals have experienced.
"None of the hundreds of animals over the last 10 years have deserved the treatment they've experienced, and serial offending like this must be stopped.
"RSPCA Victoria's team is dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals across the state, ensuring they receive the care and treatment they need, and ensuring compliance with court-ordered disqualifications put in place to protect the welfare of animals.
"I would like to commend our Inspectors for their perseverance and commitment to the welfare of the animals affected throughout multiple investigations.
"We'd also like to acknowledge and thank Victoria Police for their assistance regarding this matter."
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 03 9224 2222.
It's estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.
