Janine Marion: Nowra woman faces more than 40 animal cruelty charges

A woman previously convicted for animal cruelty offences has allegedly been busted keeping more than 70 animals in “dirty, unhygienic, cramped” conditions on the NSW south coast, despite court orders barring her from owning any animals for 10 years.

Janine Marion leaving Nowra Local Court.

A south coast woman barred from owning any animals for 10 years following a previous conviction for animal cruelty, has allegedly been keeping more than 70 animals in “dirty, unhygienic” conditions.

Janine Marion, 53, appeared before the Nowra Local Court on Tuesday charged with 17 counts of failure to comply with court order [possessing an animal], 13 counts of an act of cruelty upon an animal, eight counts of failure to provide vet treatment, two counts of aggravated cruelty upon an animal, one count of being in charge of an animal and fail to provide vet treatment and one count of hinder or resist police officer in execution of duty.

While the South Nowra woman pleaded not guilty to the hinder police charge, she is yet to enter pleas to the remaining charges.

The court heard that additional animal cruelty charges are expected to be laid in the coming weeks.

The court also heard the hinder police offence was related to the animal charges, which all allegedly took place across a nine month period.

Janine Marion faced Nowra Local Court on Tuesday.

Documents tendered to the court allege Marion – who was convicted in 2018 for failing to comply with a 2013 court order which prohibited her from taking custody of an animal for five years – kept a number of animals at her Nowra property in poor conditions late last year to mid this year.

The documents state the 2013 order came after Marion was convicted on four counts of failure to provide veterinary treatment, failure to provide proper and sufficient food and water to dogs, one count of failure to provide proper and sufficient food and water to cats, three counts of confining of cats in cages insufficient for exercise and two counts of tethering dogs for an unreasonable length of time using an unreasonable short tether.

Janine Marion outside Nowra Local Court.

Police allege Marion took custody of 72 animals during the 10 year period which started in 2018.

They allege the woman had custody of four ducks, five quails, 20 guinea pigs, four turtles, six dogs, eight rabbits, one cat and 20 birds between October 2023 and June 2024.

RSPCA officers visited Marion’s property in June, where they allegedly found a number of animals in “dirty, unhygienic, cramped” conditions.

The officers allegedly found a number of the birds kept in a shed with a cat, along with a number of dogs suffering from hookworms, with court documents stating it was “cruel to keep them alive”.

The RSPCA also allegedly discovered a number of guinea pigs and rabbits stored in small cages.

Documents allege most of the animals were suffering from various diseases and physical injuries, such as a bird with a broken wing.

The RSPCA allege that none of these animals had been treated by vets.

On June 13, police visited the property due to Marion allegedly failing to comply with the court order.

The court heard this was when Marion allegedly hindered the police during their duties. She was later charged and granted conditional bail.

The RSPCA representative requested any court adjournments be small, given Marion’s “likely” nature to reoffend.

Marion’s lawyer asked for an adjournment to allow discussions with his client – a request not opposed by Magistrate Lisa Viney.

Marion will return to court on September 10.

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