Guilty of horse cruelty

ANIMAL cruelty protestors greeted Rosebank horse owner Paul Travill with cries of "Stop the abuse!" when he appeared at Lismore Local Court last Friday, (June 1) charged with failing to provide veterinary treatment for one of his horses.

Mr Travill pleaded guilty.

The court heard an RSPCA inspector had responded to a report of a horse with an injured leg on February 2. The inspector found the yearling colt tied to a tree with a makeshift bandage covering a large wound on his left rear leg. The colt was seized and transported for urgent veterinary attention.

An RSPCA spokesman said a vet treated a 15cm x 20cm wound above the colt's fetlock.

"The bandage Mr Travill had applied to the wound was too tight," the spokesman said.

"A 30mm deep groove from electrical tape used as part of the bandage had caused strangulating damage."

It was estimated the condition would have been present for at least four weeks. The vet concluded the treatment administered by Mr Travill was not only inadequate, but had created further damage to the horse's limb.

Mr Travill surrendered the colt to the RSPCA the next day.

Mr Travill was convicted and placed on a Section 9 good behaviour bond for two years. The bond has conditions which require Mr Travill to notify the RSPCA's chief inspector of all animals in his care and to permit RSPCA officers entry to his premises to inspect his animals. He is required to obey all reasonable directions given by RSPCA officers in relation to the care of his animals.

Mr Travill was ordered to pay $81.00 Court costs and $474.70 veterinary costs.

The colt recovered and has been re-homed by the RSPCA.