A woman convicted of two charges of criminal animal cruelty has failed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court.
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Rachael Watkins was facing charges of failing to provide vet treatment and failing to provide adequate food for two horses at her property in Cape Clear.
She was also facing a charge of failing to comply with an order after not appearing in court yesterday.
One of the horses, named Emma, was so underweight and neglected that when the RSPCA seized the animals, they had no choice but to put the horse down.
“When the horses were seized, she was assessed by the vets and we came to the conclusion that humane euthanasia was the most humane option,” RSPCA Inspector Daniel Bode said.
The RSPCA are also seeking a court order to allow them to re-home another horse that was removed from Watkins’ property.
Magistrate Ron Saines allowed the case to be heard ex parte without the defendant present in the court room.
The court heard Watkins had made no contact with the RSPCA regarding the horses and had not replied to attempts from RSPCA to contact her.
Inspector Bode said Watkins still has a number of horses on her property that belong to others.
Watkins was convicted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and fined $3000 and ordered to pay costs to the RSPCA of $1500.
She will be forced forfeit ownership of the other horse to RSPCA Victoria and will be disqualified from being in charge of any horse for five years from January 25, 2018 to allow the other horses in care to be re-homed.
Inspector Daniel Bode said the disqualification order served as a specific and general deterrence for other horse owners.
"Today's outcome is a reminder to all horse owners that these animals require regular veterinary care and adequate feed,” he said.
"The forfeiture order will now allow RSPCA Victoria to re-home the remaining horse in our care."
