A woman and
man who left seven dogs without adequate food, water or bedding have been
banned from owning an animal for two years and each let off with a fine.
Caterina
Armanelli appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday, where she pleaded
guilty to failing to provide adequate care for her female Rhodesian ridgeback
Brownie, her brother-in-law's male Siberian husky Demon and their five puppies.
Her brother
in law, fly-in fly-out worker Adam Manfield didn't attend court but was also
convicted, The Cairns Post reported.
Brownie
(pictured with her puppies) was found in a severely emaciated condition
According to
the RSPCA statement of facts supplied to Daily Mail Australia, inspectors
executed a search warrant of Manfield's Woree property last October in response
to neighbours' reports of concern about the animals' welfare.
Brownie was
found in severely emaciated condition while the terrified puppies, aged 5-6
weeks hid under some old car shells and refused to respond to approach by
inspectors.
'There was
no food or water available for the dogs or puppies,' the RSPCA statement of
facts states.
'There was a
substantial build-up of faeces in the yard and no bedding available for any of
the dogs.'
'The dog
looks like a skeleton — it was appalling treatment of the animal. This poor
animal suffered greatly at your hands,' the magistrate told Brownie's owner
Caterina Armanelli
RSPCA seized
the dogs and took them to a vet to be examined.
'Brownie was
emaciated, with a body condition score of one on a scale where 1 is emaciated
and 9 is obese,' the statement of facts read.
'The vet stated
that it would have taken weeks to months for Brownie to reach that state,
depending on what food she was being provided. '
While Demon
and the puppies were found to be reasonable condition, all seven dogs seized
were dirty and required worming.
Brownie
(pictured) remains in the care of the RSCPA and has returned to her goal weight
The court
heard Armanelli argued with Manfield to relocate the dogs to her home where she
had more room but had her defence dismissed by Magistrate Joe Pinder.
He told the
court Armanelli failed every moral test and obligation as a pet owner to
Brownie, The Cairns Post reported.
'You don't
have to be a veterinary surgeon to understand that this dog is severely
emaciated,' Magistrate Pinder said.
Caterina
Armanelli and Adam Manfield were each fined $3000 and banned from owning an
animal for two years after seven dogs were seized by the RSPCA last October
'The dog
looks like a skeleton — it was appalling treatment of the animal. This poor
animal suffered greatly at your hands.'
Armanelli
and Manfield were each fined $3000.
All puppies
and Demon have since been adopted while Brownie remains in the care of the
RSCPA, having recently returned to her goal weight.
Four months
after she was found severely emaciated, Brownie has returned to good health
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