Angeline Ivkovic, Michael James Doody to face trial on dozens of animal welfare, dog fighting offences

A Western Downs couple were allegedly found with 49 dogs when authorities raided their home, with the RSPCA saying a number of had scarring consistent with dog fighting and displayed serious signs of fear and anxiety.

A Western Downs couple is accused of more than 150 animal welfare charges, including supplying pit bulls for use in illegal dog fights, chaining the dogs with heavy steel chains and locking others in small cages.

The trial of Angeline Ivkovic and Michael James Doody began in Dalby Magistrates Court on Friday, but Mr Doody did not appear, citing mental health reasons for his inability to face trial.

Ms Ivkovic, 46, entered a plea of not guilty to 77 charges, including failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal’s needs for displaying normal patterns of behaviour in a way that is appropriate, failing to provide appropriate accommodation or living conditions, failing to treat the dogs for a skin condition, and supplying three dogs for use in dog fights.

The pair was charged following a raid of their Tara property last year, which the prosecution will allege led to the discovery of 35 adult pit bulls and 14 puppies.

RSPCA prosecutor Adrian Braithwaite told the court the search warrant was executed following an RSPCA task force investigation into organised dog fighting, which allegedly found connections between Mr Doody and Ms Ivkovic and convicted dog fighters.

Mr Braithwaite said it will also be alleged a number of items connected to organised dog fighting were found, including break sticks, which are used to pry open a fighting or “game” dog’s jaws; flirt poles, which are pieces of exercise equipment; and a diary belonging to Ms Ivkovic recording the dogs’ pedigrees.

“A large number of dogs were tethered by heavy steel chains to a ground spike,” Mr Braithwaite said.

“The condition of the dog was indicative of them being chained up for lengthy periods of time. There were also a number of dogs housed in small cages, which the RSPCA will allege was inappropriate in the circumstances.”

Mr Braithwaite said witnesses were expected to address scarring to the face, neck, shoulders, legs or abdomen of three dogs, which the prosecution will allege are consistent with dog fighting and could have been inflicted up to two years ago.

He said the court would also hear evidence from RSPCA behaviour trainers, who will allege the animals showed signs of fear, anxiety and hypervigilance, including “high-pitched barking and urinating in response to touch”.

Ms Ivkovic denies any involvement in breeding the dogs or supplying them for fighting.

In a previous court appearance, she sensationally accused the RSPCA of being cruel to her dogs and claimed the charges against her were “extremely vexatious”.

Ms Ivkovic, 46, entered a plea of not guilty to 77 charges in Dalby Magistrates Courts, including failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal’s needs for displaying normal patterns of behaviour in a way that is appropriate, failing to provide appropriate accommodation or living conditions, failing to treat the dogs for a skin condition, and supplying three dogs for use in dog fights.

She will be self-represented during the trial.

Mr Doody, 54, is facing the same string of charges and has indicated he intends to plead not guilty.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan issued a warrant to lie on file, giving him one last opportunity to show up to the trial. The couple’s matter was adjourned to February 23, to allow for Mr Doody to appear.

The court is expected to hear from 27 witnesses, including veterinarians, a behaviour expert, and an expert on organised dog fighting from the United States.