Thirteen horses and 24 cats taken by RSPCA from Ararat property

A compliance check at a repeat animal cruelty offender’s property on Wednesday resulted in the seizure of 37 animals - 13 horses and 24 cats.

What happened? The animals “were found in poor living conditions, with some showing signs of illness”, the RSPCA said. They were transported to an RSPCA shelter for assessment and veterinary care.

RSPCA Victoria said it has removed over 400 animals from the resident in the last decade.

“The sheer scale of animal cruelty over many years is astounding,” said RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green.

In 2024, the County Court disqualified the person for life from owning more than five cats, and for five years from owning more than five horses.

Repeat offender: This seizure is the fourth time the person has allegedly breached a court order regarding the number of animals in their care.

“This person has been banned from owning or being in charge of more than five cats and five horses, and yet they not only continue to keep them and acquire additional animals but also mistreat and neglect them,” Green said.

• RSPCA inspectors charged the Ararat resident on February 9 for a separate incident, alleging 53 cats and 10 horses were found on their property in January and February last year.

• The individual has been charged with two counts of breaching a disqualification order and three counts of assaulting an RSPCA officer.

Frustrated: Green said the RSPCA has “done everything we can to stop the offending and animal cruelty by this person, but they ignore expert animal care advice, legislation and multiple court orders”.

“None of the hundreds of animals over the last 10 years have deserved the treatment they’ve experienced, and serial offending like this should not be allowed to continue and we will continue to apply the full force of the legislation to stop this repeat offender.”

According to the RSPCA Australia: “Where incidences of animal cruelty or animal welfare concerns are reported, Inspectors have the power to investigate and prosecute those involved.”

In Victoria the maximum penalty is a $101,755 fine or two years jail.

RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker called for stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences.

The organisation told the Brolga it is advocating for “the introduction of a duty of care for animals by strengthening animal welfare legislation”.

“We are calling on the state government to table the Animal Care and Protection Bill in parliament in order to progress these changes.”