A 66-year-old Manjimup man has been fined $5,800, ordered to pay $45,777 in costs, and banned from owning or looking after horses for 15 years after pleading guilty to letting his two horses suffer chronic laminitis and overgrown, untended hooves.
Bunbury Magistrates Court today heard the horses – Vicki aged seven and Pepper aged eight – were the subject of a cruelty complaint made to RSPCA WA in July 2024.
A Shire of Manjimup ranger attended the property at the request of the RSPCA and noted Vicki appeared to be lame as she was lying down and reluctant to move as she had long, cracked hooves. Pepper was standing in an uncomfortable position, shifting her weight from side to side.
The RSPCA WA inspector issued a written direction to the offender to arrange vet treatment for Vicki.
The direction was not complied with, and the inspector attended the property where she saw Vicki lying down in a paddock. The grass around her was flat, indicating she had been lying down for an extended period. She had excessively long and cracked hooves which had started to grow at strange angles.
Pepper was standing uncomfortably and moving her weight around on her feet. She was attempting to make her way down to the dam for a drink but could not walk properly on the steep and rocky ground.
A vet was called to the property; they provided pain relief and advised the horses were not fit for transport as they would need more pain relief first. The RSPCA WA inspector seized the horses in situ.
The following day, after administering further pain relief, the horses were declared fit to travel. When Vicki was being loaded onto the float, her hoof wall burst open, and a large amount of fluid squirted out.
Both horses were transported to a local vet for immediate assessment and treatment. They were diagnosed with a range of issues including a long-term history of chronic laminitis and inadequate farrier care, pedal bone resorption, and a high worm burden.
Both horses continue to recover in RSPCA WA foster care.
In sentencing, Magistrate Stephen Butcher said, "You were given the opportunity to surrender (the horses), it was a mistake that you didn't … I have had to make quite crushing financial orders …had you handled the situation better I would not have needed to make these."
"This is not a one-off. There was a history here and you should have been more responsive to the RSPCA."
"I have been shocked by the number of animal cruelty cases in the South West…there is a clear need for general deterrence," he said.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said Vicki and Pepper would have been in extreme pain.
"These horses were struggling to get to a water source because their hooves were in such atrocious condition," she said.
"While we understand many owners are being hit by cost-of-living pressures, our animals do not deserve to suffer as a result. It's your responsibility as an owner to speak up if you can no longer cope with your animal's care."
The offender's ownership of both horses was forfeited. He was given 28 days to rehome a stallion he currently owns.
The offender was sentenced under section 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. He was found to have been cruel to the horses in that he allowed them to suffer harm that could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.
He was also charged under section 40(2) for failing to comply with a written direction notice.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a direction is a $20,000 fine and one year in prison.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.
