WA farmer convicted of cruelty to three sheep

19 June 2009

Geoffrey Trevor Etherton, a farmer from York, Western Australia was given a $2,000 fine and ordered to pay $8.000 costs at Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday 18 June 2009, charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

Etherton was responsible for three Merino ewes that arrived at the Midland sale yards on 4 February in 2008 that had:

cancers on various parts of their bodies;
open wounds which were bleeding;
wounds which were fly blown; and
an obvious smell of rotting flesh.

Due to the severity of their condition Sale Yard staff euthanased the three sheep which were later diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinomas.

The RSPCA argued that the only humane course of action was for the Sheep to have been treated when the lesions first became evident or to have been euthanased on humane grounds on the Beverly farm.

"Geoffrey Etherton must have known the condition of these sheep as the lesions were particularly large and the smell of rotting flesh must have been noticed by him," said Richard Barry, spokesman for the RSPCA in WA. "Rather than observing the basic tenets of animal welfare which every other farmer in Australia prioritise as a fundamental part of their business, Mr. Etherton simply ignored their condition and delivered them to the sale yards in a condition that immediately caused grave concern.

"It shows a shameful disregard for the animals and we are delighted the magistrate has been so decisive."

As well as the pecuniary punishment Etherton also received a supervision order so the RSPCA can inspect - on 24 hours notice - any property owned or controlled by Etherton, or owned or controlled by a company of which he is a director, every three months over the next two years. In addition, he’s also been ordered to act upon any direction given by the RSPCA regarding veterinary treatment for his animals.

The RSPCA would like to thank our sponsors at Minter Ellison law firm for their role in this prosecution for The Society, free of charge.