RSPCA inspectors have seized a Newcastle horse for the second time, leading to its owner losing custody of the animal and banned from keeping pets for two years.
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Hamilton South’s Rebecca Bird pleaded guilty in May to failing to provide proper and sufficient food for Milly, a bay mare, after inspectors found her being kept in the small backyard of a unit in April.
Ms Bird was sentenced to a three month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay $4578.51 in costs.
The RSPCA was awarded custody of the horse.
Ms Bird has also been prohibited from owning a horse for two years, which the RSPCA successfully pushed to have applied to owning any species of pet.
The same horse previously drew the RSPCA's attention, with Ms Bird found guilty of failing to treat the mare’s leg injury in 2015.
The RSPCA said when they attended the Hamilton South premises in April Ms Bird admitted the animal was in poor condition.
But the animal welfare organisation said she was unwilling to surrender the animal, leading to police getting involved.
“[She said] “If you take her I will slit your throat and cause trouble here”,” the RSPCA said in a statement.
A veterinarian’s report subsequently revealed the horse rated a one out of five on a scale of emaciation, with zero being emaciated.
The veterination noted all ribs were clearly visible, the bay mare had sunken skin, a slight abdominal tuck, a distinct ewe neck and all hooves in need of a farrier.
A report in June found she was in high spirits and her body score had improved to a 2.5 rating.