Western District farmer facing 29 more animal cruelty charges

A well known Western District cattle farmer is now facing 72 charges of alleged animal welfare offences, after authorities laid almost 30 new charges.

Nalangil farmer Joe Dare (pictured in 2013) is facing an additional 29 animal cruelty charges including 13 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

A Western District farmer is facing 72 charges of animal welfare offences, after authorities laid 29 new charges.

The matter of Dreeite farmer Joseph Dare was heard in the Colac Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, where the case was adjourned to May 12 for a contest mention.

Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action charged Mr Dare, a livestock agent and well-known local sporting identity, last September with 33 charges related to animal cruelty, failing to provide veterinary or appropriate attention, and adequate supervision to cattle in 2023, and a further 10 charges related to allegations in 2022.

In court documents released to The Weekly Times, DEECA has charged Mr Dare with a further 13 aggravated animal cruelty charges and 16 animal cruelty charges for alleged offending between November 2023 to January 2024.

The animal cruelty charges include eight counts of unreasonably failing to provide veterinary or other appropriate attention or treatment for the animal and seven counts of failing to provide a confined animal, or otherwise unable to provide for itself, with proper and sufficient food.

There was also an additional charge of failing to provide adequate supervision to cattle with the result that unreasonable pain or suffering was caused, or was likely to be caused.

Colac district cattle farmer Joe Dare has been charged with an additional 29 charges of alleged animal cruelty offences. Picture: File (Zoe Phillips).

Previously DEECA has alleged Mr Dare failed to provide adequate supervision to his mob of 160 cattle causing unreasonable pain or suffering, between July and August 2023.

The charges also allege Mr Dare committed aggravated cruelty against more than 20 cows, causing “serious disablement”.

In court on Monday, Magistrate Kimberley Swadesir asked why the matters from 2022-23 were filed in 2024 and last week.

DEECA prosecutor Scott Ward said the department faced several emergency situations, including bushfires and avian influenza, which delayed the process.

“Unfortunately with Agriculture Victoria and its other duties like emergency response, avian influenza and the like it has taken some time for project evidence to be collected,” he said.

Mr Dare’s legal representative, barrister Gregory Lascaris, said the third matter came through “very recently” and he needed more time to consider its details.

“If the third brief wasn’t there, an indication may have been sought,” he said.

“The third brief has complicated things a little bit.”

Mr Dare farms on about 1000ha in the Nalangil district and was formerly a player on Carlton’s AFL list. He is also premiership coach at the Alvie Football Club.