Sickening footage has exposed the squalid property where a pedigree cat breeder kept 118 cats she was selling for more than $500 each.
Dead kittens, bowls of raw meat, piles of garbage and faeces covered the premises of Sandra Yandell’s home at Lewiston, north of Adelaide.
Conditions at the cattery were so ‘appalling’ the stench made an RSPCA inspector’s eyes and throat burn when they walked inside.
RSPCA uncovered ‘extreme filth and degradation’ during an inspection on 27 May
Sickening footage has exposed the squalid property where a pedigree cat breeder was keeping 118 cats she was hawking for more than $500 each
A number of cats suffered ailments including respiratory issues, dental problems, ear infections and conjunctivitis.
The 66-year-old was convicted at the Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Thursday over a series of animal cruelty charges.
RSPCA officers seized 118 ragdoll cats from the home after discovering the ‘extreme filth and degradation’ during an inspection on 27 May.
During a court appearance last week, RSPCA’s legal counsel Chloe Swinden urged the magistrate to consider jail time, reported the Daily Telegraph.
Sandra Yandell, 66, (pictured) was given a six month suspended jail sentence and a two year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to more than nine counts of ill treatment of an animal
The RSPCA told the court they witnessed squalid conditions including urine soaked furniture, rubbish and faeces everywhere
‘This type of activity … is simply unacceptable,’ Ms Swinden said.
But Ms Yandell’s defence argued the offences weren’t a result of intentional mistreatment, but the impact of ‘significant setbacks in her life’.
These included the loss of her partner of 27 years to cancer in 2002 and health problems which reduced her capacity to care for the felines.
‘She didn’t do it for the money, she did it for the love,’ he said.
‘(But) she was unable to keep up with the running of the operation. Things spiralled out of control.’
Bowls of raw meat covered the floor and three dead kittens were also found buried under piles of garbage
At the sentencing on Thursday, Magistrate Yoong Fee Chin told the court the images spoke for themselves
Yandell was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and a two year-good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to more than nine counts of ill treatment of an animal.
She was also ordered to pay a $500 fine for not following the cat breeders’ code of practice.
At the sentencing on Thursday, Magistrate Yoong Fee Chin told the court the images spoke for themselves, reported Adelaide Now.
‘It was hard for the cats to walk without being exposed to bodily waste,’ he said.
‘The cats had been exposed to the appalling situation for a sustained period.’
Magistrate Chin agreed she had tried to perform good deeds by giving cats away to children undergoing cancer treatment as a form of therapy.
But Ms Yandell’s legal defence argued the offences weren’t a result of intentional mistreatment, but the impact of ‘significant setbacks in her life’
The Magistrate described the property as an ‘appalling condition’ for cats to be exposed to
He also acknowledged the breeder had suffered serious abuse online and within the community since the offences were published.
All the cats have now been surrendered into RSPCA’s care.
While the majority have been re-homed, about 50 remain under veterinary care or in foster care.
On the breeder’s website, and online classifieds website ‘adpost.com’ the ragdolls were being advertised anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
‘It was hard for the cats to walk without being exposed to bodily waste,’ he said
On the breeder’s website, and online classifieds website ‘adpost.com’ the ragdolls were being advertised anywhere from $500 to $2,000
RSPCA South Australia Chief Inspector Andrea Lewis said the incident is a reminder for people to be diligent when buying from breeders.
‘It’s not about the kittens and puppies that look so appealing in the online adverts, it’s about the breeding mothers, forced to produce litter after litter,’ Ms Lewis said.
‘If you don’t see for yourself what kind of operation the breeder is running, you risk supporting the kind of animal suffering evident in this case.’
All the cats have now been surrendered into RSPCA’s care