26 March 2014

A Gosnells woman was today fined $11,000 and prohibited from being in charge of horses for a period of three years.

Sharon Richardson was visited by RSPCA Inspectors in September 2012 after a complaint of three skinny horses was received by the RSPCA.

Upon sighting the horses, RSPCA Inspectors observed that there were three skinny horses, a three-year-old bay mare named "Mia", a chestnut mare named "Sadie" who were both in a poor body condition and a third horse, known as "Catch a Dream" which was in very poor body condition. A direction notice was issued to Richardson to provide proper and sufficient food for the horses.

In October RSPCA inspectors did a follow up visit. After questioning Richardson about food and water, inspectors were told that the horses were getting chaff and hay twice daily. Inspectors then checked the shed where the food was supposed to be and found it empty. One horse was emaciated and was seized and Richardson was issued with two further direction notices. A veterinarian was in attendance and also checked the welfare of the horses.

On Wednesday 5th December, RSPCA inspectors and a vet again attended the property to follow up on the direction notices issued by the RSPCA to feed the horses.

RSPCA inspectors noticed that the poor body condition of the horses had deteriorated even further. He also noticed there was no hay or feed anywhere in the paddock.

RSPCA Inspectors then seized the remaining two horses under the Animal Welfare Act where they were taken back to the RSPCA for examination.

"We are very happy with today's result," RSPCA Chief Inspector Amanda Swift said.

"If an RSPCA Inspector issues a direction notice to take care of an animal, that must be adhered to and failure to comply can end up in prosecution as happened today," she said.

Richardson was ordered to pay $4379.50 in costs to the RSPCA, including veterinary treatment costs.