Nicole and Frank Pytellek plead guilty to animal cruelty charges

A Kallista couple have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, after neglecting cattle on their Toora property.

Absentee landowners have pleaded guilty to neglecting their cattle on their Toora property.

Kallista couple Nicole and Frank Pytellek pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty in Wonthaggi Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, after allowing a heifer to access a dam on their Toora property, where it became bogged up to its neck and had to be euthanised.

They were each fined $2000, without conviction, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

Both pleaded guilty to two charges of neglecting to supervise and prevent stock access to a boggy area on their Toora property, resulting in unnecessary pain and suffering of the heifer.

Agriculture Victoria Compliance Manager Daniel Bode said Nicole and Frank Pytellek were

absentee owners and persons in charge of a mob of approximately 32 cattle.

The couple also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to comply with a Notice to Comply (NTC), and aggravated cruelty in respect of a steer with a large eye cancer.

The Magistrate commented the responsibility fell on them to keep the animals safe, healthy, and well, and the offending is taken seriously because of the vulnerability of the animals.

In response to a complaint, Agriculture Victoria officers attended the property in September 2023.

“The AgVic officers observed a steer in extremely low body condition and with an advanced eye cancer measuring 15cm wide and 11cm deep,” Mr Bode said. “An NTC that was issued to provide treatment was not acted on.”

Additionally, a heifer was discovered, whose body was completely bogged in a dam. There was nothing to prevent livestock accessing this area.

Both animals were euthanised to prevent further suffering.

Mr Bode said apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and responsible producer of food, which can, in turn, affect all producers.

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or [e-mail]