Two kittens found dead after being denied basic care
As another case of preventable death was prosecuted in an online Magistrates’ Court sitting at Benalla last week, RSPCA Victoria is again pleading with animal owners to provide better standards of care for their pets.
In July 2019, an RSPCA Victoria Inspector attended a property in Benalla in response to a report that tenants had vacated a premises and left two dead kittens in the bathroom. When no kittens were found, the Inspector exited the premises and observed two women outside.
When approached, both individuals confirmed they had been the previous tenants of the property, and under caution they both admitted to each owning a kitten and being the persons in charge of both kittens. When asked if they had moved the kittens, they admitted they had put them in a wheelie bin. The deceased kittens were located in the bin by the RSPCA Inspector, and both bodies were transported to a veterinarian for a post-mortem examination.
The veterinarian’s analysis of the bodies determined the likely cause of death of both animals was starvation, dehydration, and eventual emaciation and death. It was estimated the kittens would have been suffering for two to four weeks prior to their deaths, and that their poor body condition and deteriorating health would have been obvious.
RSPCA Inspectorate Team Leader Michelle Green said it was maddening that these cases of severe neglect continued to present themselves.
“These helpless kittens were denied the most basic standard of care, and both animals have died as a result. This was a completely preventable outcome,” Ms Green said.
“If your circumstances change and you are no longer able to care for your animal, you owe it to them to do the right thing and seek help or support. We will not hesitate to prosecute owners who show this level of wilful disregard for the lives of animals in their care.”
Both accused pleaded guilty and were placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond. The Magistrate ordered both women to pay combined costs of $653.40, and they were each disqualified from owning any animals for a period of 10 years.
Anyone with concerns for the welfare of animals is encouraged to contact RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate via www.rspcavic.org/report or by calling 9224 2222.
