Cliftleigh: Pascale Bundi sentenced over horrific case of animal cruelty over pet horse Lady

A Cliftleigh woman has been sentenced after a horrific case of animal cruelty, a gaping wound left to fester with no treatment administered. Warning Graphic images.

In a horrific case of animal cruelty, a horse has been left in agonising pain with a gaping and festering chest wound, as her owner refused to supply adequate treatment.

Pascale Bundi, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide veterinary treatment to her Paint Horse mare, Lady, who had to be euthanised.

In Maitland Local Court last week, the Cliftleigh woman was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order (CCO) and fined $2,000 and ordered to pay the RSPCA further costs of almost $300.

“The photographs are graphic and make very unpleasant viewing. The horse clearly had to be euthanised,” Magistrate John Chicken said.

WARNING graphic images. The gaping wound left without treatment. Credit: RSPCA NSW

On February 10, following a torrential storm, Lady was found in a paddock with a chest wound that transected her chest muscles and exposed her ribcage, measuring 50 centimetres long and almost 40 centimetres deep. Two large pools of blood lay nearby.

A vet who came to the property administered pain relief and sedation to the horse who was shaking profusely in pain, gave Bundi a number of treatment options, which included taking the horse to the emergency centre, treat her in situ or euthanise her.

The RSPCA reported that she refused all options, including the owner of the paddock’s offer to pay the estimated $6,000 in vet treatment and provide all supportive care.

Bundi instead transported the animal back to her property and said “we’re taking her home and treating her with silver and honey and she will be as right as rain in (six) months or so”.

WARNING graphic images. Cliftleigh woman sentenced after shocking cruelty of her horse Lady, not administering treatment to a festering wound. Credit: RSPCA NSW

But an RSPCA inspector who attended her property the following day saw the horse standing in the hot sun at the property, with greying flesh and muscle spilling from the chest wound, which was emanating a foul odour.

Lady had been left for an excruciating 20 hours without treatment.

Another vet was called and the animal was then euthanised.

WARNING graphic images. Lady has to be euthanised. Credit: RSPCA NSW

RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers said, "It is appalling that someone could choose to remove an animal from the care of a qualified vet.

“This horse very clearly needed emergency vet treatment and was in a position to receive that treatment, but by the owner’s callous decision, she was forced to endure hours of suffering.

“Animals feel pain just as people feel pain, and it is the responsibility of owners to do the right thing and seek veterinary assistance for them.”