Hoarding - over 100 dogs seized
Eudunda, SA (AU)Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 1, 2007
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Joseph Higham
» Margarete Higham
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Sixty dogs have been destroyed after what the South Australian RSPCA says is its most horrific case of animal cruelty.
Most had infected wounds and broken bones.
Animal welfare officers on March 1 found more than 100 dogs caged on a property in Eudunda, 115km north of Adelaide, RSPCA spokeswoman Aimee McKay said.
The dogs, nearly 30 of which were weeks-old puppies, were in horrific health, Ms McKay said.
Most were suffering from severe conjunctivitis, others were struggling to breathe with broken ribs and many had severely infected wounds from fighting each other.
The animals deemed too sick to survive or could not be rehabilitated were put down, she said.
Ms McKay said a couple who owned the dogs lived in a caravan on the property and had been reported to the RSPCA before.
She said 20 dogs were seized from the couple last October when they lived in the nearby town of Swan Reach, but the pair fled when officers returned for the remaining 40.
Ms McKay said the find was the worst welfare officers had experienced and staff members were distressed over the state of the animals.
"We have never seen anything like it before - it was a horrific experience for the volunteers and staff of the RSPCA who are naturally animal lovers," she said.
"It is a hugely heartbreaking thing to see."
Ms McKay said it was hoped the puppies and the some of the older dogs could be found new homes.
RSPCA prosecutors had charged a man with four counts of animal cruelty and a woman would be questioned over her role, she said.
Case UpdatesConvicted dog hoarder Margarete Higham has made a brief appearance in the magistrates court at Mount Gambier in South Australia. She has been remanded in custody to be sentenced next Monday in Adelaide Magistrates Court for animal cruelty.
Mrs Higham and her husband Joseph fled their home in the Murraylands of SA after being found guilty recently of 11 counts of cruelty.
A warrant was issued for the couple's arrest.
On Friday, Mrs Higham was found at Casterton in western Victoria with about 100 dogs.
She was extradited to SA after facing court at Warrnambool.
Her husband is expected to face a bedside hearing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital today.
The RSPCA has been caring for the dogs. | Source: ABC News - May 19, 2008
Update posted on May 19, 2008 - 12:01AM |
A dog-hoarding couple on the run with up to 100 animals may be headed into Victoria after yet more convictions for animal cruelty.
Fugitives Joseph and Margarete Higham had convictions in two states for mistreating hundreds of dogs before fresh convictions in South Australia earlier this month.
The RSPCA yesterday said the couple -- who disappeared in South Australia after being convicted of 11 counts of animal cruelty -- had also committed 123 offences in NSW and Queensland.
The crimes had escaped the organisation's notice because the Highams had used false names interstate.
Spokeswoman Aimee McKay urged communities between South Australia and Victoria to be on the lookout for two people in a Nissan twin-cab ute pulling a trailer carrying a large number of dogs.
"Unfortunately, we believe they now have another 100 dogs in their possession," she said.
"We're obviously concerned about them, especially given we've found out they cannot seem to have animals without being cruel to them.
"Like people hoard things in their garage, they hoard dogs."
The Adelaide Magistrates Court this month convicted Joseph, 66, and Margarete, 73, in their absence of 11 counts of ill-treating an animal.
The charges relate to raids on properties near Swan Reach and Eudunda in 2006 and 2007.
In total, 120 dogs were seized, 70 were left behind, 70 were destroyed, 15 were re-homed and three remain under observation.
Witnesses told the court one dog's breed was unrecognisable because it was bald and covered in black mange.
They said the dog had "suffered every day of its life" and "never received proper nourishment". | Source: Herald-Sun - May 8, 2008
Update posted on May 7, 2008 - 1:10PM |
The couple accused of Australia's worst-ever case of animal hoarding have ignored arrest warrants and failed to attend court for their trial.
However, Joseph and Margarete Higham's trial for 11 counts of animal cruelty went ahead today despite their absence.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court took action after hearing RSPCA concerns the couple – who have changed address several times – might have vanished and may never be found.
Joseph, 66, and Margarete, 73, are accused of 11 counts of ill-treating an animal.
An arrest warrant was issued in March when Joseph Higham – who is on bail – failed to attend a pre-trial hearing.
The charges relate to raids on properties near Swan Reach and Eudunda in 2006 and 2007.
In total, 120 dogs were seized, 70 were left behind, 70 were destroyed, 15 were re-homed and three remain under observation.
Yesterday, RSPCA Inspector Russell Jarman told the court the Highams' properties were "rather unpleasant to say the least".
"There was very minimal shelter and copious amounts of dogs running around," he said.
"There was food available (but) water was available only in patches... some animals had no access, others had access only to contaminated water."
He said four dogs were seized in the first raid, including the animal that had lost all its fur due to mange.
"That dog failed to eat and its condition was deteriorating," he said.
"I took it to an emergency vet – they couldn't put a drip in because its veins had collapsed."
Mr Jarman said officers negotiated for the Highams to surrender more dogs following the first raid.
"We got a phone call to say they had disappeared and taken their dogs with them," he said.
"They just upped sticks and vanished."
The trial, before Magistrate Cathy Deland, is continuing. | Source: Adelaide Now - April 7, 2008
Update posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 3:53PM |
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