Pets Galore owner Nicole Louise Bourne facing more than 200 charges

The owner of Pets Galore in Toowoomba is facing more than 200 charges arising from an RSPCA raid and the seizing of animals.

Pets Galore pet shop in Toowoomba was raided by the RSPCA officers and pets removed. Photo Bev Lacey

Pets Galore store owner Nicole Louise Bourne was a step closer to having her court case heard after the matter was mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Bourne was not required to be in court but was represented by her solicitor Harrison Humphries of Clifford Gouldson Lawyers.

Mr Humphries told the court he had received the brief of evidence from the prosecution prior to court and asked for an adjournment so he could go through the brief with his client.

Ms Bourne has been charged with 52 counts of failing to provide food and water for animals, 58 counts of failing to provide appropriate treatment for injured animals, 48 counts of failing to provide appropriate accommodation or living conditions for animals, 41 counts of failing to take reasonable steps to provide for the animal’s needs for displaying normal patterns of behaviour in a way that is appropriate, and one of failing to comply with an animal welfare direction.

The charges follow an RSPCA raid of the Toowoomba store on May 20, 2020, during which RSPCA welfare officers seized hundreds of animals from the Pets Galore site in the city including cats, a dog, rodents and birds.

Ms Bourne has not been required as yet to enter any pleas to the charges and has been on bail since her arrest.

At a separate appearance in the same court in November Ms Bourne agreed to a court order prohibiting the Pets Galore from having a certain number of animals until the RSPCA charges against her have been finalised.

Magistrate Graham Lee remanded Ms Bourne on bail and adjourned the case for mention back in the same court on February 25.

Originally published as Pets Galore owner Nicole Louise Bourne facing more than 200 charges