SA’s animal cruelty offenders and their shocking crimes revealed
Last week, two Adelaide women faced court on animal mistreatment charges. Here is a list of some of SA’s worst animal cruelty offenders in recent years and their crimes.
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From the ragdoll breeder housing 118 cats in “extreme filth” to the Adelaide Hills man who left a halter on a donkey that was so tight it had to be surgically removed, these are some of the most shocking cases of animal neglect in SA since June 2019 and what happened when they faced our courts.
SANDRA YANDELL
A Lewiston cat breeder, who housed up to 118 ragdoll felines at one time, faced Elizabeth Magistrates Court on 10 charges relating to the mistreatment of animals.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court heard scores of cats were seized by the RSPCA from Sandra Yandell’s property following an inspection in May this year, which was described by a visiting vet as a scene of “extreme filth and degradation”.
However, Yandell – who had previously received nine animal welfare notices from the RSPCA in 2018 due to issues related to cleanliness, the care of cats and a need to make “modifications to living conditions” – said her ailing health had led to the alleged neglect.
She is due to be sentenced later this week.
CHERYL EVANS
A Gawler Belt woman has faced the Elizabeth Magistrates Court charged with allegedly mistreating a kitten and an ailing horse.
The RSPCA alleged Cheryl Evans ill-treated a short-haired kitten named Dudley and a 14-year-old gelding named Regal Act between September 4 and 16, 2017, at her Parkers Road property, a charge sheet revealed.
It was alleged the kitten was locked in a room that was covered in urine and faeces and had no ventilation.
Its tail was also covered in dried and matted faeces.
The kitten had not been treated for ear mites and a respiratory infection.
It was also alleged Evans “unreasonably and recklessly caused Regal Act unnecessary harm by refusing to accept veterinarian advice to humanely euthanise him” and she failed to take “reasonable steps to mitigate harm”.
DORA RYAN
A dog breeder from Baroota on the Spencer Gulf was found guilty of 27 counts of animal neglect.
Dora Ryan appeared before Port Pirie Magistrates Court in November 2019 facing charges brought upon her by the RSPCA.
In May 2017, a search of Ryan’s property in Baroota, 40km north of Port Pirie, resulted in the seizure of 23 pomeranians, more than 20 chickens and four german shepherds.
The 27 charges related to 17 counts of failing to provide food, water and adequate living conditions, as well as four counts of failing to provide veterinary care.
The court heard that during the search of the property RSPCA inspectors found that the pomeranians were kept in small enclosures, with up to five dogs in each cage.
The cages also contained large amounts of faeces, rotten bones and a lack of clean water. Several of the dogs were also found to have fleas and other conditions such as discharge from the mouth.
She is yet to be sentenced.
GEOFFREY MORTENSEN
In December 2019, a disability pensioner received a suspended prison sentence for failing to take his sick dog to a veterinarian.
Geoffrey Mortensen, of Waterloo Corner, admitted to two counts of animal neglect laid by the RSPCA over an elderly fox terrier, Brandy.
Brandy was seized in August 2018 from a property that Mortensen shared with a former de facto, Sarah Van Roon.
Van Roon, formerly of Brisbane, also was charged but fled Adelaide shortly afterwards.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court heard Brandy had been left untreated with various ailments including infected eyes, ears, mouth and front left paw, cancerous lumps and a worm infestation.
JOHN LESLIE CARTER, KAREN MAXWELL
An Adelaide couple was jailed in December 2019 after they abused more than 100 animals, including birds, alpacas, llamas and rabbits.
RSPCA South Australia visited the Adelaide home of John Leslie Carter and Karen Maxwell in October 2017 following reports of animal cruelty.
They discovered several rabbits with no access to food or water, some stacked on top of each other, in small cages laden with faeces.
Eight alpacas and two llamas in an “emaciated” condition were found in a vineyard, while live birds were caged next to decomposing carcasses.
A total of 136 animals were taken from the property into the care of the RSPCA, with most rehomed after they recovered.
Magistrate Ian White jailed Maxwell for six months in jail and Carter was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment.
RYAN SMITH
A Mount Barker man who starved a horse and left a halter on a donkey that was so tight it had to be surgically removed was placed on a good-behaviour bond in October 2019.
Ryan Smith was convicted in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court of two counts of ill-treatment of an animal and banned from owning any animals – apart from two dogs and a cat currently in his care – for five years.
The RSPCA, who prosecuted the case, said inspectors found an emaciated 18-year-old thoroughbred gelding, Cory, and 10-year-old donkey, Thelma, at a property in Nairne after a member of the public made a report.
YUM HO CHAN
A Mount Gambier man who put a cable tie around the muzzle of his 11-month-old German Shepherd, preventing her from eating, drinking or panting to cool down, was placed on a good behaviour bond in October 2019.
Yum Ho Chan appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court charged with one count of ill treating his dog, Chloe, to cause harm after a passer-by found her on March 9.
In a statement, the RSPCA, who prosecuted the case, said Chloe – who had since been rehomed – was found unable to breathe naturally and in distress.
After the cable tie was removed, Chloe drank water constantly for a long period before climbing into a plastic clam shell full of water.
RSPCA chief veterinarian Dr Brad Ward said preventing a dog from opening its mouth would severely inhibit its ability to regulate its body temperature.
MICHAEL SUMNER
A dog owner who left a 1kg ulcerated tumour on the front leg of his six-year-old staffordshire bull terrier, Bindi, untreated for up to two years avoided a jail term in August 2019.
RSPCA inspectors were tipped-off to Bindi’s plight and found her in pain but friendly when they seized her from a Largs Bay property in March 2018.
In a series of complex operations over several weeks, RSPCA South Australia’s veterinary team removed the malignant tumour, which they suspected had been left for up to two years, possibly longer, given its size.
Michael Sumner appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court where he was sentenced for two counts of ill-treating an animal and failing to comply with a direction in an animal welfare notice.
SERENA MATUSZEWSKI
An Adelaide woman was given a suspended jail sentence in September 2019 for failing to get a vet to treat a large ulcerated tumour in her pet dog’s groin.
Buster, an American pit bull terrier cross was found emaciated in January 2018, with the tumour severely disfiguring his genitalia, affecting his ability to urinate.
The tumour was so large and deep it was deemed inoperable and Buster was euthanased.
Owner Serena Matuszewski pleaded guilty to one count of ill-treatment of an animal for failing to mitigate harm to the seven-year-old dog.
She was given a three-week suspended jail term and placed on a 12-month good-behaviour bond.
Matuszewski was also ordered to pay $1300 in veterinary and legal fees and was banned from owning any animals until further notice.
RSPCA South Australia’s chief veterinarian Brad Ward had told the court the tumour would have been present for at least six to 12 months and the advanced ulceration would have caused the dog significant pain for a long period.
PAMELA PREECE
A woman who failed to get vet treatment for her dog’s “rockmelon-sized” groin tumour was spared jail in June 2019 because she was a carer for her severely disabled child.
The Christies Beach Magistrates Court convicted Pamela Preece of animal cruelty and placed her on a $1000 good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Sue O’Conner further banned Preece from owning any more animals, but allowed her to keep the cat, budgie and two guinea pigs she already possessed.
Preece had claimed she could not afford to pay for vet care and feed her children.
Outside court, RSPCA chief inspector Andrea Lewis said that was no excuse.