Ilario Deluca: Horses in severe pain after Mildura owner’s neglect

The RSPCA gave a Mildura man one chance to remedy the “appalling neglect” of his two horses but he couldn’t manage it, with devastating results.

Two horses were so neglected by their Mildura owner that they were in “long-term pain” and needed to be euthanized, a court has heard.

Mildura man Ilario Deluca, 52, failed to appear at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

After confirming a brief of evidence had been served to Deluca, Magistrate Michael Coghlan opted to deal with the matter in his absence.

Deluca was found guilty of two charges of committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal, two charges of unreasonably failing to provide attention or treatment of an animal and one charge of failing to comply with a notice.

The charges referred to two horses, named “Sarah” and “Tom”.

Mr Coghlan, after reading an RSPCA summary, said when officers attended Deluca’s property they found the horses, who “clearly were in need of some form of treatment”.

Deluca was given the opportunity to arrange that treatment.

When the RSPCA officers returned, it was clear that had not been obtained.

The horses were taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was decided they had to be euthanized on humanitarian grounds.

Mr Coghlan said the veterinary clinic had found an “appalling neglect” of feeding and care of the horses, who were said to be in severe long-term pain.

Deluca was said to have an affinity for the horses but failed to take appropriate care.

Mr Coghlan noted Deluca had no prior history.

Deluca was convicted and fined $2000 for the aggravated cruelty charges.

He was convicted and fined $1500 for the failing to provide attention or treatment charges.

For failing to comply with a notice, he was convicted and fined $500.

He was also ordered to pay $1164.20 in costs to the RSPCA and will also be disqualified from being the person in charge of any horses for five years.

Originally published as Ilario Deluca: Horses in severe pain after Mildura owner’s neglect