RSPCA South Australia confirms that proceedings arising from a serious animal hoarding
and cruelty matter were finalised today in Port Augusta Magistrates Court before His
Honour Magistrate Fotheringham.
The matter involved three defendants who lived in a Housing SA tenement in Port Augusta:
a 70-year-old woman, a 52-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman. An arrest warrant
remains outstanding for the 62-year-old defendant.
RSPCA Inspectors seized animals from the property on 6 February 2024 and again following
a warrant on 27 March 2025 after a further cruelty report.
On 6 February 2024, 29 animals were seized and transported to RSPCA Lonsdale, including
14 cats, 13 kittens, and 2 dogs.
As RSPCA Inspectors handled the cats, they noted that they could feel their protruding
spine and ribs. The kittens had watery and crusty eye conditions.
None of the animals were desexed or microchipped, and a seized dog known as 'Dolly' had
matted patches of fur, hair loss over her body, and severe dental disease.
On 27 March 2025, a dog named 'Rocky', a dog named 'Buster', a cat named 'Comit', and
two budgerigars named Pretzel and Sherbet were surrendered to RSPCA South Australia
from the defendant's property.
One dog, 'Washburn', was later found to be suffering from a degenerative medical
condition and was humanely euthanised. 'Rocky, 'Buster', 'Comit', 'Pretzel' and Sherbet'
were all successfully rehomed, with the budgerigars adopted as a bonded pair.
Inspectors documented squalid, hazardous conditions throughout the unit. Floors and
surfaces were encrusted with faeces and urine, overflowing litter trays, rotting food,
obstructed rooms, and very young kittens hidden in a cockroach-infested closet.
The defendants were prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 1985 for multiple counts of
animal ill-treatment, alleging failure to provide adequate living conditions and failure to
seek veterinary treatment for animals in their care.
His Honour Magistrate Fotheringham imposed a 15-month good behaviour bond of $500 and
were subject to the full suite of section 32A orders including surrender, forfeiture and
prohibition.
Each defendant was ordered to pay $328 toward RSPCA legal costs plus victims of crime
levies.
The defendants will be returned to Court for resentencing if they breach the bond.
This case underscores the complex link between hoarding, poverty, mental health and
prolonged animal suffering.
RSPCA South Australia will continue to enforce animal welfare laws while seeking to
prevent animals from harm.
Members of the public with concerns for animal welfare are urged to report them to
RSPCA.
Under SA's Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or
two years' imprisonment. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is
$50,000 or four years' imprisonment.
RSPCA South Australia is the state's only animal welfare charity with inspectors
empowered to investigate animal cruelty and exercise a range of powers under SA's
Animal Welfare Act.
Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to make an
online report at https://www.rspcasa.org.au/services/inspectorate/report-cruelty/.
Or call RSPCA's cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722 (open 7am-7pm).
