NSW legislation designed to protect animals from cruelty is fundamentally ineffective because even repeat perpetrators prosecuted for cruelty are actually being PERMITTED to continue keeping animals.  

The objects of this Act are:

(a)  to prevent cruelty to animals, and

(b)  to promote the welfare of animals by requiring a person in charge of an animal:

(i)  to provide care for the animal, and

(ii)  to treat the animal in a humane manner, and

(iii)  to ensure the welfare of the animal.

CASE STUDY

August 2013                 Kim Hollingsworth pleaded guilty to charges of animal neglect for horses that were seized by the RSPCA in July 2012. She was convicted and prohibited from owning more than 20 horses for 2 years.

19 November 2014      Kim Hollingsworth was convicted of 14 charges relating to neglect of five horses. The charges were contested. The magistrate awarded custody of the horses to the RSPCA and Ms Hollingsworth was prohibited from owning more than 20 horses for two years and put on a two year good behaviour bond.

24 February 2015         Kim Hollingsworth was convicted of failing to provide proper and sufficient food and failing to provide necessary veterinary treatment in relation to 12 horses of which she was the person in charge.  In convicting Ms Hollingsworth, Magistrate Williams classed Ms Hollingsworth’s issues as a “systematic failure of management.”  It was ordered that Ms Hollingsworth be placed on good behaviour bond for two years, on condition that Ms Hollingsworth must not be the person in charge of more than 20 horses.

I was dumbfounded when I heard about this story, because it highlights a complete lack of enforcement of protection for abused and neglected animals.  Even when a conviction is secured, offenders are simply not being stopped from continuing their abuse.    

Please show your support for the prevention of animal abuse and neglect by signing this petition.