BY JARROD MELMETH
A Cliftleigh woman has been charged with animal cruelty offences for failing to provide veterinary treatment for her horse.
The Mare named Lady was found in a paddock with a chest wound that transected her chest muscles and exposed her ribcage, measuring 50 centimetres long and almost 40 centimetres deep.
On February 10, 2020, following a torrential storm, Lady was found in a paddock with the injuries. A local vet was notified and attended to property after being contacted by the owner of the paddock. Lady was shaking profusely in pain.
The 48-year-old Cliftleigh woman arrived later that evening where she was presented with treatment options by the vet. The woman refused all the options and took the horse home with her. She told the vet she would treat the horse with "silver and honey, and she will be right as rain in [six] months of so."
The vet contacted the RSPCA who attended the defendants property and found Lady standing in full sun, on a very hot day, with greying flesh and muscle spilling from the chest wound. The inspector confirmed the horse had been without vet treatment for 20 hours and was in excruciating pain.
An on-call vet was contacted who came and euthanised Lady.
The Cliftleigh woman was sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order, as well as being handed a $2,000 fine with money awarded to the RSPCA.
RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Myers says it is appalling that someone could choose to remove and animal from the care of a qualified vet.
"This horse very clearly needed emergency vet treatment and was in a position to recieve that treatment, but by the owners callous decision, she was forced to endure hours of suffering.
"Animals feel pain just as people feel pain, and it is the responsibility of owners to do the right thing," Mr Myers said.
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| Pictured: Lady. |
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