RSPCA Victoria Inspectors have charged a repeat animal cruelty offender with two counts of breaching a disqualification order and three counts of assaulting an RSPCA Inspector under 12AF and 24ZR(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1986).

The individual has been prosecuted by RSPCA Victoria on multiple counts of animal cruelty towards cats and horses over multiple years and is currently banned from owning or being the person in charge of more than five cats and five horses.

RSPCA Victoria Inspectors will allege the individual had 53 cats and 10 horses on their property outside Ararat in January and February 2025 after attending their property to monitor compliance with a court-issued disqualification order and seized the above animals under court-issued order.

RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate Team Leader Shannon Walsh (He/Him) said the alleged assaults of RSPCA Inspectors and the breaches of their disqualification orders were disappointing.

“RSPCA Victoria has successfully prosecuted this individual for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1986) on multiple occasions and removed almost 400 cats and horses from their care over several years,” Team Leader Walsh said.

“Under the conditions of this person’s court sentence for animal cruelty offences, they were permitted to have no more than five horses and five cats.

The relevant offences are covered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1986).
Anyone found guilty of cruelty offences can face fines of up to $101,755 or 2 years imprisonment.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 03 9224 2222.

It’s estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.