Carmen Morrison, Joel Morrison, Stephen Cooke on animal cruelty charges including a service dog

Three people accused of leaving a Labrador ‘Pumpkin’ emaciated, and five others in squalid conditions have told court they want the animals back.

Three people have been charged with multiple animal cruelty charges, including against a Labrador named Pumpkin, a court has heard.

Carmen Morrison, 58, Stephen Cooke and Joel Morrison, 30, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last week, after the RSPCA reported them for allegedly keeping multiple dogs in poor conditions.

The court heard the RSPCA was currently boarding two of the their dogs, with the current fees sitting at $2400 per dog.

“Those costs will continue to mount if the dogs remain with the RSPCA,” the prosecutor said.

“They want to keep the dogs in the long run … I understand that one of the dogs, I’m told by Ms Morrison, is her assistance dog.”

Carmen Morrison. Photo: Facebook

The RSPCA alleges in court documents that the trio ill treated a female Labrador named Pumpkin on February 24 at Blair Athol.

“The defendants, being the owners of the animal, failed to provide it with appropriate and adequate living conditions. The animal was living in squalid and unsanitary conditions,” the document read.

The RSPCA also allege that the trio ill treated the same dog between January 20 and February 24 at Blair Athol.

“The defendants, being the owners of the animal, failed to provide it with appropriate and adequate food,” the document read.

“The animal was located in an emaciated condition.”

The documents also allege the trio ill treated a male black and white Shih tzu cross named Ollie, a male Labradoodle/terrier dog named Henry, a male black Shih tzu named Charlie, a female black dachshund named Rubi and a female black dachshund named Rahli on February 24 at Blair Athol.

It is alleged that all the dogs were living in squalid and unsanitary conditions and they weren’t provided with appropriate and adequate living conditions.

Stephen Cooke. Photo: Facebook

Joel Morrison. Photo: Facebook

The trio, all of Blair Athol, are charged with seven counts of ill-treating an animal. They are yet to enter any pleas.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court last week heard the trio would be disputing the RSPCA’s fee and Ms Morrison would be providing a doctor’s letter to provide evidence that she required the assistance dog.

Magistrate Chris Smolicz adjourned the charges until August.