A Victorian cat breeder who could not adequately look after more then 100 cats and a horse has pleaded guilty to a litany of animal cruelty charges.
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Christine Weisheit’s widespread neglect in 2014 resulted in the euthanasia of 25 cats and one horse.
The 62-year-old Warrak woman pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday to 34 animal cruelty charges, after she was initially contesting the offences.
Her sentence included a ban from owning cats for 10 years, but she is allowed to have a maximum of 35 cats – a recommendation by the RSPCA the court agreed with.
The charges relating to the cats included unreasonably failing to provide veterinary or other appropriate treatment and omitting to do an act with the result that unreasonable pain or suffering was caused.
Weisheit admitted she committed an act of cruelty on the horse which resulted in death or serious disablement.
RSPCA Victoria prosecutor Sebastian Reid told the court the animal welfare organisation seized 122 cats and kittens from Weisheit’s property on November 18, 2014.
He said 97 adult cats and 24 kittens, or 87 per cent of the population, showed clinical signs of cat flu.
“Fifty-six of the adult cats were found to be underweight and in thin body condition with a score of two or below as described by the Department of Primary Industries body condition score with one being emaciated, three being optimal and five obese,” Mr Reid said.
He said 84 cats were carrying a range of gastrointestinal diseases and parasites, 40 had ear infections and 22 cats tested positive to ringworm infection.
RSPCA Victoria received an animal welfare complaint about one of Weisheit’s horses on March 12, 2015. An inspector attended the property to find the horse with a severe soccer ball-sized wound to its lower right hind leg.
The accused said the horse had disappeared from the property but returned six weeks ago with the injury.
Mr Reid told the court Weisheit attempted to treat the horse’s wound herself, initially with manuka honey, which caused massive inflammation.
“The accused then has been treating the wound with a lime-based powder and copper sulphate.The accused did not provide a veterinary examination or prescribed veterinary treatment to the horse during that six to seven week period,” Mr Reid said.
He said euthanasia was the only humane treatment for the horse.
Defence lawyer Harlis Kirimof said his client had been operating the non-commercial cattery for 10 years at Warrak, near Buangor, where she occasionally received money for housing people’s cats and selling them.
“This has taken a very significant emotional toll on her. The number of cats she had wasn’t what she had planned to have. That was a result of a flu outbreak and she wasn’t able to rehouse the cats,” Mr Kirimof said.
Magistrate Ron Saines told Weisheit a large part of her offending arose because of the mass increase of cats she permitted at the cattery.
“This is not merely a cause of cat flu. It’s one of widespread neglect and cruelty of cats,” Mr Saines said.
Weisheit was convicted and fined $11,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs. She was banned from owning more than 35 cats for the next 10 years.
Mr Saines said Weisheit, who had a relevant criminal history, had shown remorse by pleading guilty, had been burdened because five years had past since the offending and there was no evidence she had re-offended.
Outside court, Oscar’s Law founder Debra Tranter said she was pleased with the conviction but disappointed the RSPCA did not push for a heavier penalty.
“I am disappointed with the ban order that allows (Weisheit) to have 35 cats. I don’t think she is capable of looking after any other animals,” Ms Tranter said.
“It’s disappointing the RSPCA didn’t push for a complete ban (to own animals).”