A man was convicted in Lismore Local Court on Friday in relation to an animal cruelty charge over an untreated horse. Paul Travill, of Rosebank, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide veterinary treatment to his horse.
An RSPCA inspector, who responded to a report of a horse with an injured leg on 2 February last year, 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.
The veterinarian treated a 15 x 20 centimetre wound above the fetlock. The bandage Travill had applied to the wound was too tight. A 30 millimetre 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 veterinarian concluded the treatment administered by Travill was not only inadequate but had created further damage to the horse’s limb. Travill surrendered the colt to the RSPCA the following day.
Travill was convicted and placed on a Section 9 good behaviour bond for two years. He is required to obey all reasonable directions given by RSPCA officers in relation to the care of his animals and was ordered to pay $81 court costs and $474.70 veterinary costs.
The colt recovered and has been rehomed by the RSPCA.
