A 28-year-old Condobolin woman has been sentenced to custodial time for aggravated animal cruelty and other charges relating to the death of five dogs.
The woman pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty leading to the death of five dogs on her property.
She also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide proper and sufficient food, and two counts of failing to provide veterinary treatment to the one surviving dog found on her property.
The woman was sentenced at Queanbeyan Local Court on May 9, and will serve an aggregate term of 18 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months.
She is forbidden to own or care for any animal for 10 years.
In February last year, RSPCA NSW inspectors searched the defendant’s property alongside police and local council rangers.
In the lounge room, inspectors discovered the remains of two white dogs covered in maggots.
The remains of one of one of their legs was beneath rubbish left on the floor.
The remains of three more dogs were found in the front bedroom of the property.
A brindle Bull Arab dog was found alive in the yard and was taken to Forbes Veterinary Clinic for immediate treatment.
The examining vet said the surviving dog was underweight at 27.2kg, and declared there had been a failure to provide proper nutrition for at least two weeks.
The dog also received attention for an untreated hookworm infestation.
The vet also provided the opinion that all five of the deceased animals had died having not received proper and sufficient food and water for at least four weeks.
In Queanbeyan Local Court, Magistrate Clisdell reflected on summer temperatures in Condobolin, having sat as a Magistrate in the area for a period.
He noted that leaving animals to fend for themselves in such conditions calls for serious punishment.
RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers said it was “devastating” to see owners abandoning animals to starve and dehydrate to death.
“No animal should suffer the same tragic fate of these poor dogs,” he said.
“If you suspect animals within your neighbourhood have been left alone with inadequate care, please contact RSPCA NSW immediately, so that we can investigate and help these animals before it is too late.”
The underweight Bull Arab dog recovered with the help of RSPCA NSW and has been adopted.
SAM WORRAD