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16 AUGUST, 2022
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Rocky left to starve By Olivia Condous A Melton South woman has been prosecuted by the RSPCA for a “heartbreaking” case of animal neglect. The woman faced Sunshine Magistrates Court on August 5, where she was handed a 12-month community corrections order and banned from owning a dog for 10 years, RSPCA said. She was also ordered to pay costs of $1920 and will serve 200 hours of community work under her corrections order. The accused was in charge of a great dane cross dog named Rocky, who was found by RSPCA inspectors at a property in Melton South in poor condition. According to the RSPCA, Rocky was “extremely” emaciated, recumbent and barely responsive. He was seized and transported to the RSPCA Burwood Clinic, where he was treated for hypothermia, emaciation, dehydration and fleas. Despite his condition improving after intensive care and treatment, Rocky passed away three days later. A veterinary assessment concluded that Rocky would have been losing significant body condition for at least two weeks and blood tests revealed he was anemic, showing clinical signs of prolonged starvation. The assessment concluded that a lay person would have been able to recognise he needed veterinary treatment. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, any person in charge of an animal must provide food, water and shelter, as well as appropriate husbandry and veterinary attention as needed. RSPCA team leader Karen Collier said that the case had been particularly heartbreaking and the neglect to which Rocky was subjected was utterly unacceptable. “No animal should be left to suffer in the manner Rocky would have experienced. I will never understand how anyone can let an animal deteriorate to this point and stand idly by,” Ms Collier said. “While this isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, I do take solace in the fact that Rocky spent his last days receiving the love and care he so deserved.”
A colourful message
Artist Kathy Holowko’s watercolour artwork features in the Blackwood and Barry’s Landcare short film ‘Caring for our Patch’. (Damjan Janevski) 293737_01
A Moorabool landcare group is spreading an important message in a colourful way. Blackwood and Barry’s Reef Landcare Group have created a film featuring watercolour artworks to educate residents on the importance of weed control. Landcare member and artist Kathy Holowko was the painter behind the film and said the group wanted a creative, engaging piece in order to draw attention to the message behind it. “So often these calls to action and awareness can be a bit dry, so the aim was to make it really visually interesting, so that people will want to watch the full three minutes and listen to the message,” Holowko said. The ‘Caring For Our Patch’ short film was funded by a $7000 grant from Melbourne Water, with the initiative to promote healthy waterways. The film details the dangers of spreading weed seeds and advises residents on how to combat weed infestation, with animated watercolour artwork captured by video producer Daniel Williams. Holowko said her work as an artist was all about educating people on ecology, so working on the film came naturally. “It fits perfectly in many ways, as I’m from the area and care about it deeply.” Landcare group member Shane Scanlan wrote the grant application for the project, but sadly passed away before the films completion. “It’s a lovely legacy of his contributions to the Landcare group,” Holowko said. Watch the film: https://vimeo. com/735278839 Olivia Condous
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