A Bridgetown man could be banned from keeping sheep if he is found guilty of six counts of animal cruelty. William Brown Anderson (54) of Fairgreaves Road appeared in the Manjimup Court of Petty Sessions on Sept 22 and pleaded not guilty to six counts of failing to alleviate the suffering of an animal.
Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals prosecutor Robin Moore said inspectors attended Anderson's property in Bridgetown on July 1, 2004 to investigate complaints about starving sheep.
Moore told the court about 200 sheep were found on the property, including some visibly week and others suffering diarrhoea.
He said 11 carcasses were sighted.
Six sheep were alleged to have been discovered by the inspector in such a poor condition they had to be euthanased by a local vet, including one believed to have been suffering a rectal prolapse.
Moore said Anderson told the inspector he had not given the sheep any supplementary food because he believed there was enough green pasture available.
Anderson also allegedly admitted the animals had not received any further care or treatment since being shorn and wormed in December 2003.
If convicted, the RSPCA will seek a court order preventing Anderson from being in charge of sheep. Case UpdatesThe trial of a Bridgetown man facing animal cruelty charges has been adjourned until later this month.
William Brown Anderson is facing six charges of animal cruelty relating to starving sheep on his property.
It is alleged that when an RSPCA inspector visited the property in July 2004, he found six sheep in such poor condition they had to be put down.
The inspector also found another 11 sheep that were already dead.
The hearing in Manjimup Magistrates Court was adjourned last week after the prosecution had presented its evidence.
The defence case will be heard when the trial resumes in Bunbury on July 18. | Source: ABC News - July 3, 2006
Update posted on Jul 2, 2006 - 9:59PM |
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