A 62-year-old woman has been handed an 18-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay more than $130,000 in vet costs, after pleading guilty to nine charges of animal cruelty in Gunnedah Local Court.
The charges relate to 51 Koolies and mixed breed dogs, which were seized by RSPCA inspectors from squalid conditions at a Gunnedah property owned by Leith Gatenby.
The RSPCA says one Koolie’s condition was so severe, veterinarians deemed it cruel for her to be kept alive, while the remaining dogs suffered a range of health issues including flea burdens, ear infections, gastrointestinal parasites, conjunctivitis and untreated eye issues.
As well as the good behaviour bond and vet costs, Ms Gatenby has been ordered to pay more than $4000 in fines to the RSPCA and is prohibited from owning any more than five de-sexed dogs.
