Kanga
03-01-2007, 01:49 PM
March 2, 2007 - 8:16AM
Sixty dogs have been destroyed after what the South Australian RSPCA says is its most horrific case of animal cruelty.
Most had infected wounds and broken bones.
Animal welfare officers yesterday found more than 100 dogs caged on a property in Eudunda, 115km north of Adelaide, RSPCA spokeswoman Aimee McKay said.
The dogs, nearly 30 of which were weeks-old puppies, were in horrific health, Ms McKay said.
Most were suffering from severe conjunctivitis, others were struggling to breath with broken ribs and many had severely infected wounds from fighting each another.
The animals deemed too sick to survive or could not be rehabilitated were put down last night, she said.
Ms McKay said a couple who owned the dogs lived in a caravan on the property and had been reported to the RSPCA before.
She said 20 dogs were seized from the couple last October when they lived in the nearby town of Swan Reach, but the pair fled when officers returned for the remaining 40.
Ms McKay said the find was the worst welfare officers had experienced and staff members were distressed over the state of the animals.
"We have never seen anything like it before - it was a horrific experience for the volunteers and staff of the RSPCA who are naturally animal lovers," she said.
"It is a hugely heartbreaking thing to see."
Ms McKay said it was hoped the puppies and the some of the older dogs could be found new homes.
RSPCA prosecutors had charged a man with four counts of animal cruelty and a woman would be questioned on her role, she said.
AAP
Sixty dogs have been destroyed after what the South Australian RSPCA says is its most horrific case of animal cruelty.
Most had infected wounds and broken bones.
Animal welfare officers yesterday found more than 100 dogs caged on a property in Eudunda, 115km north of Adelaide, RSPCA spokeswoman Aimee McKay said.
The dogs, nearly 30 of which were weeks-old puppies, were in horrific health, Ms McKay said.
Most were suffering from severe conjunctivitis, others were struggling to breath with broken ribs and many had severely infected wounds from fighting each another.
The animals deemed too sick to survive or could not be rehabilitated were put down last night, she said.
Ms McKay said a couple who owned the dogs lived in a caravan on the property and had been reported to the RSPCA before.
She said 20 dogs were seized from the couple last October when they lived in the nearby town of Swan Reach, but the pair fled when officers returned for the remaining 40.
Ms McKay said the find was the worst welfare officers had experienced and staff members were distressed over the state of the animals.
"We have never seen anything like it before - it was a horrific experience for the volunteers and staff of the RSPCA who are naturally animal lovers," she said.
"It is a hugely heartbreaking thing to see."
Ms McKay said it was hoped the puppies and the some of the older dogs could be found new homes.
RSPCA prosecutors had charged a man with four counts of animal cruelty and a woman would be questioned on her role, she said.
AAP