Target: Daryl Coates SC, Director of Public Prosecutions, Tasmania, Australia
Goal: Ensure the maximum possible sentence is imposed on a woman who pleaded guilty to 22 animal cruelty charges after 70 animals were found living in squalid conditions, with some already dead and others euthanised to end their suffering.
A 67-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to 21 counts of animal cruelty and one count of mismanagement of animals after inspectors discovered 71 animals — 69 cats and two dogs — living in squalid conditions at her property, with some animals already deceased upon arrival. Several of the surviving animals were suffering from serious untreated medical conditions, and some were so severely afflicted that they had to be humanely euthanised to prevent further suffering. The case has been described by the RSPCA as “confronting” — a word that understates the scale of alleged neglect behind 22 separate criminal charges.
RSPCA inspectors attended the property following a cruelty complaint about a large number of cats. What they found was a scene of profound suffering — animals left to languish in filth, denied veterinary care, and in some cases left to die. The 69 cats and two dogs seized from the property underwent veterinary examination and treatment for varying levels of illness and neglect. While many have since been nursed back to health and rehomed, the tragedy of those who suffered and died under the accused’s care cannot be understated.
A guilty plea to 22 animal cruelty charges involving over 70 animals is among the most serious cases of mass neglect to come before Tasmanian courts in recent memory. The sentencing outcome in this case will send a critical message about how seriously the justice system treats the suffering of animals who have no means of escaping the conditions imposed upon them. Sign below to demand the Director of Public Prosecutions urges the court to impose the maximum available sentence — one that reflects the full gravity of the suffering allegedly caused.
PETITION LETTER:
Director Daryl Coates SC,
We are writing in response to a deeply troubling case in which a woman has pleaded guilty to 21 counts of animal cruelty and one count of mismanagement of animals after 69 cats and two dogs were found living in squalid conditions at her property, with some animals already dead and others so severely ill they required euthanasia to end their suffering. The RSPCA has described this case as “confronting,” and the 22 guilty pleas speak to the extraordinary scale of the neglect these animals endured.
We are gravely concerned that without a sentence commensurate with the severity of this case, the message sent to the community will be that the prolonged suffering of dozens of animals carries little real consequence. Animals found deceased, animals euthanised to prevent further suffering, and survivors requiring urgent veterinary treatment for serious untreated conditions — this is not a minor or technical breach of animal welfare law. It represents a sustained and systemic failure of care that caused immense and preventable suffering.
We respectfully urge your office to ensure that the prosecution advocates for the maximum available penalty in this case, including a lifetime ban on animal ownership, and that the sentence imposed reflects the full weight of 22 counts of animal cruelty involving over 70 animals. These animals had no way to call for help — many did not survive long enough to be rescued. We ask that you ensure the court delivers a sentence that honours the gravity of their suffering.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: William Whyte
