13 November 2013

A Greenmount woman was today found guilty of animal cruelty in Fremantle Magistrates Court, and received a 10-year ban and was fined $3000. She was also ordered to pay $5000 to the RSPCA in boarding and veterinary costs and more than $1200 in court costs.

In November last year, after receiving a complaint that cats had been locked inside a truck for three days, RSPCA Inspectors found an enclosed truck but could not locate the vehicle owner. As they heard cats inside and could smell the odour of cat faeces and urine coming from the vehicle, they cut the lock to the tailgate of the truck to free the cats.

The Inspectors found five cat carry cages lined up against the far wall of the vehicle containing 13 male and female cats, including kittens. One of the cats was charging against the door of the cat cage. The truck was unlit and unventilated, and there was no food or water available and the cats appeared distressed.

In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Langdon said that she had no doubt that the cats had suffered harm having been locked in the van for three days without food, water, lighting or ventilation.

The animals were seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and were taken back to RSPCA's Malaga headquarters where they underwent a full veterinary clinical examination and treatment.