A COODANUP woman found guilty of 24 animal cruelty charges caused a scene outside Mandurah Magistrates Court today as family members clashed with members of the media.
Rosemary Muriel Donovan, 24, will now await sentencing on Friday and faces a maximum $50,000 fine or five years’ imprisonment after more than 70 animals were found living in squalor at the family’s Coodanup property in July 2011.
Outside court Ms Donovan’s family abused members of the media after Ms Donovan’s mother Kim was acquitted of all charges.
Animals found at the property in 2011 were established to be without proper and sufficient food or water and suffering harm which could have been alleviated by the taking of reasonable steps.
It was alleged that in an aviary a rabbit was walking over five dead budgies lying on the floor, given multiple animals shared the cages.
Dead guinea pigs were also found on the floor in some of their cages.
Lawyers for the RSCPA have asked the court to impose a fine, a permanent prohibition order to prevent Ms Donovan from owning any further animals and to consent to a random search of her property every three months.
Ms Donovan argued she would struggle to pay a fine given she is on a pension as a full-time carer for her mother.
She has asked for legal advice and the matter was adjoined for sentencing to Friday.
