Geelong’s shocking animal cruelty cases exposed
For the past three years Greater Geelong has seen the highest number of RSPCA animal cruelty reports in the state. These are some of the region’s most shocking cases.
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Greater Geelong has seen horrific animal abuse, ranging from neglect to bestiality, in recent years.
For the past three years Greater Geelong has seen the highest number of RSPCA animal cruelty reports in the state — but actual abuse cases could be much lower.
In 2022/23, Greater Geelong residents made 550 animal abuse reports, the most of any Victorian local government area.
The previous financial year saw 552 reports in the area, a significant drop from 2020/21’s 640 reported cases.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate team leader for the South-West region Belinda Dent said in the 2022/23 financial year, more than 460 animals came into her team’s care from across their region.
She said animals with husbandry issues, underweight animals, and insufficient supply of water, food, or veterinary treatment were Greater Geelong’s most frequent concerns.
“Out on the road, we’re seeing firsthand how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting pet owners and their ability to provide basic veterinary care for their animals including preventative medicines like flea and worming treatments, and crucially, de-sexing,” Ms Dent said.
“These types of reports can be complex, but RSPCA inspectors are here to help.
“Thankfully, many of the animals we encounter every day have loving owners who want to do the best they can for their pets.”
A man is facing charges after police allegedly caught him stomping on and beating a four-month-old puppy outside a Geelong West supermarket last month.
Officers were called to the scene on Albert St on May 29 after receiving reports of a man abusing his puppy in public.
They allegedly found the 29-year-old Rippleside man stomping on and beating the Staffordshire puppy outside ALDI.
Two officers intervened, preventing the man from inflicting any further injuries.
The dog suffered bruising, scratches and scolding during the alleged attack.
The man, believed to be the dog’s owner, has been processed by the RSPCA for causing injuries to an animal.
He is due to be summonsed to appear before Geelong Magistrates’ Court.
These are some of the region’s concerning cases involving animal abuse
Kevin McMahon
A man has been found guilty of breaking into a farm in the middle of the night and committing a sex act with a horse
Kevin McMahon was found guilty of bestiality and three counts of trespass in the Geelong Magistrates Court in March.
The court heard McMahon worked with racehorses for 20 year as a strapper, and was familiar with the stable the horse was in.
The hearing was adjourned to June 24 for sentencing.
Six dogs seized by RSPCA near Geelong
A number of dogs were seized at a rural Geelong property, after a covert sting operation uncovered alleged animal cruelty and illegal breeding.
Members of the RSPCA’s major investigations unit swooped on the home on April 6 2023, seizing size dogs, after they were altered through a confidential tip-off from a community member.
Inspectors found six dogs in “very poor” conditions after the probe into and alleged illegal puppy breeding operation.
It’s believed investigators found the golden retrievers in “unsanitary” and “unsafe conditions”, with all animals requiring medical attention.
The RSPCA is the only non-government organisation in Victoria with the power to enforce the law, as such no police involvement was required.
Belinda Wangman
A Colac farmer who turned to drug trafficking to keep her business afloat also failed to care for calves, some of which were euthanised due to neglect.
Belinda Loretta Wangman pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court last December to both drug trafficking and animal cruelty charges.
The court heard Wangman neglected to look after cattle at one of her farms, after her husband died.
Agricultural officers attended her Pirron Yallock property after receiving complaints, the court heard.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action prosecutor Scott Ward said 45 of the calves were confined to muddy water with no feed, while another 20 ranged in condition from poor to moderate.
Mr Ward said the majority of these calves were in an emaciated condition and a weakened state.
The court heard two of the calves were seriously ill and needed to be euthanised “to prevent further suffering”.
Wangman’s lawyer said she was “overwhelmed” by the task of feeding the livestock after the death of her husband.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable David Vanderpol said officers also found cannabis and amphetamine at Wangman’s home, and evidence of drug trafficking on her mobile phone.
Magistrate Franz Holzer convicted and fined Wangman $3000 for the animal cruelty offences and sentenced her to a community corrections order in relation to the drug trafficking matters.
“Anybody with the care and responsibility of animals, needs to have the capacity to look after them appropriately,” Mr Holzer said.
Karen Smithyman
Teesdale’s Karen Smithyman pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and was ordered to reduce the number of ponies she owned, after RSPCA inspectors found more than 30 extremely thin Welsh ponies in her care.
Smithyman faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court, where it was heard 32 of her ponies were “severely emaciated” when inspectors went to her property in 2019.
Smithyman’s neglect was so bad that one pony died before it could receive treatment from a vet.
In 2021, Smithyman was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond and ordered to donate $1500 to the RSPCA.
Magistrate John Lesser said Smithyman’s actions were “devastating for the health” of her ponies.
But he noted her mental health was an issue at the time, and there was no malice in the actions.
Kon and Liudmila Petropoulos
Repeat animal-cruelty offenders, husband and wife duo Kon and Liudmila Petropoulos, have been prosecuted by the RSPCA on multiple occasions for selling kittens illegally and animal cruelty.
The Soldiers Hill couple, who have ties to Geelong and Ballarat, were fined for animal cruelty and banned from selling domestic animals for 18 months in 2020.
They were later charged with failing to comply with court orders.
During the couple’s sentencing in November 2023 Magistrate Franz Holzer emphasised the importance of specific and general deterrence and stressed the need for animals, whether in personal or commercial settings, to be treated with care and love.
He said neither Mr or Mrs Petropoulos were fit to have the privilege of owning animals.
The pair pleaded guilty and were jointly penalised a total of more than $16,000, including fines and the RSPCA’s full legal costs.
The couple was sentenced in the County Court in a separate RSPCA prosecution in September 2023.
RSPCA Victoria successfully prosecuted them on on 47 charges after the couple appealed their initial court result.
Both received a two-year community corrections order with 200 hours of community work and a 10-year ban on owning, breeding, rearing and selling cats.
They were also subject to ongoing monitored by the RSPCA and received $25,000 in fines each.
They also had to pay more than $144,000 in total costs to the RSPCA and transfer or surrender any cats in their care within 14 days to the RSPCA’s satisfaction.
Matthew Gray
A truck driver threw sheep from an almost three metre height and left them to suffer in a pile, Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard.
Victorian truck driver Matthew Gray had transported 445 sheep from Adelaide to a Corio abattoir overnight in February 2021 when the incident occurred.
Gray was responsible for unloading the sheep into pens at the abattoir, but found six of them sick and unable to move.
The court heard Gray had asked a staff member for help but he had “f---ed off” to take a cigarette break.
He then threw the sheep from the top level of the truck.
Gray pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty charges in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court.
Gray was convicted and fined $3500.
Magistrate Ann McGarvie was shown footage of the incident but asked to have it shut off after watching the first sheep be thrown a distance of 2.7 metres, telling the court it “made her sick”.
Jake Kniese
A man who publicly punched a dog at least six times in the head was convicted and received the 12 month community corrections order.
Geelong man Jake Kniese, chased and beat an American Staffordshire terrier he was caring for at the time, called Zeus, on February 13, 2021.
The witness told police that Kniese was kneeling on the dog punching its head and neck, with the attack lasting approximately 20 to 30 seconds.
An RSPCA inspector confirmed the dog had been returned to its owner and did not sustain any apparent injuries.
Two days later police attended Kniese’s property and located more than 43 grams of cannabis, a number of plants and seeds, fireworks and an allegedly illegally owned jungle carpet python.
The Forest and Wildlife Authority was called to assist in the extraction of the snake.
On his reason for owning the jungle carpet python he told police “it wasn’t getting looked after and I wanted to give it a good home”.
Steer shot with arrows
Bannockburn Veterinary Clinic’s Dr Peter Bond was called to an Armstrong Creek property on August 31, 2021 following reports a steer was injured by arrows.
The steer has been allegedly shot in its neck and jaw, causing a police investigation into the “sickening” act.
“I had to basically anaesthetise the steer and give it an anaesthetic so it didn’t move,” Dr Bond said.
“If it had happened to get the carotid artery, or the jugular vein, it would have bled out.
“It was just by chance that it did not hit a major artery.”
Dr Bond said the animal’s owners were “obviously very upset” by the incident.
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