When Cowra police executed a search warrant at a William Street property in relation to drug offences they found a dog belonging to the property owner deceased and three others in neglected condition.
Documents tendered to the Local Court when the man appeared to answer animal charges revealed police were executing a search warrant in relation to the alleged supply of prohibited drugs.
Following the visit Timothy John Newham, 49, of William St was charged with failing to provide veterinary treatment and sufficient food to the dogs.
“He simply doesn’t have money to provide veterinary assistance for the dogs which are at an advanced age,” Newham’s legal counsel told the Local Court in November.
The court, after hearing Newham’s guilty plea, fined him $1900 for the offences as well as placing him on a 18 month Community Corrections Order.
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He was disqualified from owning a dog for five years.
“The facts are quite disturbing,” magistrate Rana Daher said before sentencing Newham.
“One of the dogs was found deceased,” she said.
Police documents revealed police had taken a Council ranger with them to assist with control of the dogs during the search.
“One of the dogs was found deceased and left sitting on top of a blue bag,” the documents revealed.
In relation to the other dogs police said “It was observed the dogs were living in a covered stable type shed at the rear of the property”.
“Food and water bowls spread throughout with no bedding.
“None of the water bowls had any water and none of the food bowls had any food.”
As a result police, in consultation with the RSPCA, authorised seizure of four dogs under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Newham told police the deceased dog had been killed by another dog but a veterinarian who inspected the dog refuted this claim, stating there were no apparent signs of trauma to indicate this was the case.
The veterinarian was of the opinion the deceased dog had not been fed for a number of weeks.
The veterinarian went on to report the remaining dogs were suffering from open wounds, tumours and gum disease.
