topic Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed in Community Spirit

Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

davidc4430 — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 10:24:07 GMT

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/animal-cruelty-charges-see-woman-jailed-31-dogs-43-cats/8213076

very sad news story

if anyone ever has any worries something like this is going on in your neighbourhood please call authorities.

not sure jail is the answer to what is likely a mental problem.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

ecar3483 — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:12:07 GMT

It would seem that she's a hoarder.

Rather than junk, she collects animals.

I have to wonder, does she live in suburbia?

The firies said "They found airborne ammonia contamination levels of 29 parts per million — breathing apparatus is required for environments with levels higher than 25 parts per million, while normal levels are close to zero".

Couldn't the neighbours smell it?

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

springyzone — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:30:28 GMT

That report is just outrageous.

The law really is an ass.

Hicks received a $1,000 fine for each offence and the Magistrate ruled she could not own more than one dog for the next five years.

They would allow this woman to own even one dog?

The report says:

Hicks had previously been convicted of 83 animal cruelty charges in Queensland.

In 2008, she was fined $7,500 and ordered not to own any animals for the next three years, after 19 cats and 64 dogs were found living in squalor in her home in central Queensland.

Jail is not the ideal solution for this. Just look at that house. The woman cannot look after herself, let alone animals. There is clearly a severe mental problem there and has been for years. I would say at least 10 years because you can bet things were getting bad before she got caught in 2008.

I would say this woman should never, ever be allowed to own any animal or live alone. She needs to be put into care, some sort of home. Homes sometimes do have pets that visit and she would probably be fine to pat a visiting dog, but any magistrate who believes she could look after even one dog on her own is totally delusional.

So many of our magistrates are, unfortunately.

Oh and the fine: She has that sort of money and will pay up? I have my doubts.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

davidc4430 — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:58:03 GMT

well said

using the criminal justice system to deal with the mentally challenged in society is not how we should be dealing with a problem, its lazy and prolly making problems worse.

as you say, this woman needs to be in supervised care not in jail with criminals.

but of course the underlying reason we dont do the right thing is.....IT WOULD COST MONEY.

money is allways in the background stuffing up how things should be

the 'who is going to pay' is the brick wall society hits even though not doing what should be done ends up costing so much more money in the long run.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

tasfleur — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 23:06:40 GMT

Absolutely a moronic way to deal with the poor lady who obviously can't do anything for herself without full welfare and care.

I love animals, especially cats and am sad that the animals in the house couldn't be saved and rehomed but it seems it was too late.

To put the woman in jail though, and I agree with the comments already expressed in this thread, is a travesty and she should be in care both psychiatric and residential of the State if there is no family who can, or will care for her.

It seems to me that the most vulnerable are all too often left to their own devices to cope with what is impossible for them ....

So much for a democratic system that can't see past the purse strings in these situations that generate much suffering.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

*raqshaki* — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 01:23:20 GMT

There isnt any long term residential care for anyone with mental health issues. when they are deemed unwell they go to a clinic for a while. When deemed well they are released back into "the community". I have literally just gone thru the eviction process of a hoarder, got her out yesterday and the process started in September. Sherriffs removed her yesterday. There are WALLS of boxes full of **bleep** in there and the place is filthy. All down to her not managing her mental health issues, and her support workers not supporting her and me becoming a defacto social worker. A horrible process and a lot of money to be spent to fix up my unit. I feel for her, but her issues were not my responsibilty.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

bright.ton42 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 01:24:05 GMT

@ecar3483 wrote:

"They found airborne ammonia contamination levels of 29 parts per million — breathing apparatus is required for environments with levels higher than 25 parts per million, while normal levels are close to zero".
Couldn't the neighbours smell it?

And what about the noise of the animals, it would be deafening. If there are neighbours they are as bad as her.

Of course she needs some sort of psychiatric care, for the sake of herself and for the poor animals.

And she's to be fined $1000 for each offence? How many offences are there ......"dozens of dogs and cats", surely each one would be an offence? And of course she would have say $60,000 tucked away to pay, how absurd. .

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

the_great_she_elephant — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 01:56:50 GMT

I can't add anything except to agree with what has already been said.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

chameleon54 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:12:20 GMT

@davidc4430 wrote:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/animal-cruelty-charges-see-woman-jailed-31-dogs-43-cats/8213076

very sad news story

if anyone ever has any worries something like this is going on in your neighbourhood please call authorities.

not sure jail is the answer to what is likely a mental problem.

A sad situation all round. If people suspect animal cruelty on this level they do need to contact authorities, but please think before you dial the number.

I was reported because my farm dogs are housed in a custom made kennel situation that a passer by did not like. It is raised off of the ground, fully insulated, covered deck type areas and grating to keep it clean. It includes suitable bedding and stainless steel, clean water and food containers. The officer commented it was one of the best set ups she had ever seen.

She went on to explain that they get a lot of people wasting thier time and resources making unfounded or poorly thought out complaints which all must be investigated. People become annoyed because the neighbours dog barks and contact the RSPCA out of spite rather than the council which is the appropriate process. ( no my dogs dont bark ) They constantly get reports about sheep losing thier wool from well meaning people who dont realise the sheep are Dorpers that naturally shed their wool. This wastes enormous amounts of the officers time as each reported case is visited, assessed and written reports made.

Malicous or unfounded reports take valuable, limited resources away from the areas of real need. By all means report genuine cases of suspected cruelty, but please use this service responsibly.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

davidc4430 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:28:13 GMT

but doesnt your experience show the reporting system working as it should

someone rightly or wrongly thought something needed looking into, reported it, the right people came and talked to you, examined your set up and passed you with flying colours.

id rather 50 people were inspected and found to be doing the right thing if it ment finding just 1 doing the wrong thing than people thought 'well i dont know, maybe its ok' when its not ok and they dont report it.

id be cool if the rspca came to my home and checked out my animals if someone thought i was misstreating any of them.

even if whoever it was did it maliciously cos it would backfire on them.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

bushies.girl — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:38:58 GMT

Totally agree David ..... cant stand any form of animal cruelty

'Cause we have 3 dogs, we need to get permission 'n have a council inspection every yr, doesnt worry me, we always pass with flying colours ( have to pay a yearly fee as well )

Sadly in the woman's case, I feel she is mentally disturbed, she sounds really needs treatment and be totally prevented from owing an animal at all

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

tasfleur — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:44:57 GMT

"There isnt any long term residential care for anyone with mental health issues. when they are deemed unwell they go to a clinic for a while"

Some research today shows me there are some, but very few and limited, long term residential care facilities in Australia, but you are so right about most who need that kind of care ending up out on their own again and so that dreadful cycle continues.

Over the years, successive governments have dismantled, displaced and made many mentally ill people homeless, putting them into situations where they have no hope of a decent life/future at all.

Governments of any country bring a real shadow of shame to their countries when they do that, in my opinion.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

chameleon54 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 03:18:25 GMT

@davidc4430 wrote:
but doesnt your experience show the reporting system working as it should

someone rightly or wrongly thought something needed looking into, reported it, the right people came and talked to you, examined your set up and passed you with flying colours.

id rather 50 people were inspected and found to be doing the right thing if it ment finding just 1 doing the wrong thing than people thought 'well i dont know, maybe its ok' when its not ok and they dont report it.

id be cool if the rspca came to my home and checked out my animals if someone thought i was misstreating any of them.

even if whoever it was did it maliciously cos it would backfire on them.

Not really............... My dogs are well fed, shiny coats, healthy and clean. This is all easily seen from the adjoining road so the person who reported the dogs did not really think the thing through very well..

The problems for RSPCA officers is similar to our hospital emergency services which are being clogged up by people who have minor cuts or a cold. Some people just dont think.

As mentioned in the previous post, the RSPCA officer believes many of the reports she recieves are malicous. ie., neighbours barking dogs or people who have feral neighbours that sit around smoking dope and playing loud music all day. The animals might be well fed and healthy, roaming the back yard, but escape from time to time, upsetting the nearby residents. Rather than contact the council which is the appropriate course of action, they contact the RSPCA out of spite. The animals are healthy, just not being managed in a socially responsible way. I,m not suggesting you would do this David, but it seems many people do.

As I said, by all means report suspicians of genuine animal cruelty, but make sure it is done in a responsible way. The animal inspectors are challenged for time and resources and people making unfounded or malicous reports clog the system.

I,m not arguing with anyone here, just presenting a different aspect to the conversation, that others may not have thought of and has not been mentioned......

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

chameleon54 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 03:37:29 GMT

Just a few more thoughts.

As farmers living on the urban fringes we manage large numbers of animals and are constantly in the public eye. This isn't a problem if people have some basic knowledge of animals and animal husbandry, but can result in problems and unnecessarily stress if ignorant people start throwing unfounded accusations around. The Dorper sheep that naturally shed their wool is one good example. Another is the mulesing debate stirred up by PETA who have misleadingly, misrepresented poly styrene foam models of bloody gored lambs as real sheep to the public in their campaign's..

This is a sensitive area for farmers. My son has a small mob of around 100 Merino sheep. Last year I did a minor mules on his lambs. This year, due to the controversy surrounding mulesing I decided to try leaving the lambs un-mulsed. I went to our remote property on Tuesday and none of the mulsed sheep where flystruck. Of the 15 un-mulsed sheep, 3 where fly struck. Fly strike is much more harmful and painful to the sheep than mulesing and can result in death to the sheep from blood poisoning.

Whilst this is a sensitive and difficult animal welfare issue, it is a clear example of how mis-informed, ignorant, city based interference in farm practices is actually causing animal welfare issues, rather than solving them.

Re: Animal cruelty: Woman jailed

davidc4430 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 03:41:48 GMT

there are people out there who believe all cats and dogs should live indoors, with heated beds and their own tv sets.

so of course there will be those that will call in silly reports. as long as the authorities take a sensible line all should be ok.

the real problem will be if you get an rspca officer with the same thoughts, lets hope that never happens.