http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/news/local/news/general/woman-accused-of-appalling-animalcruelty/2488315.

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Woman accused of appalling animal cruelty

BY ROSS IRBY 14 Mar, 2012 12:44 PM A Batemans Bay woman has been accused by the RSPCA of appalling abuse of 39 cats and other animals that it alleges were found neglected and living in filth at her Crown St home. Helen Shepheard, a 68-year-old cleaner, did not appear before Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday to face eight charges alleging she committed acts of animal cruelty in December 2011 under the Prevention of Animal Cruelty To Animals Act. Instead Ms Shepheard was represented by lawyer John Clarke, who said she was at work and unable to attend. Despite the alleged offences taking place at Batemans Bay and Ms Shepheard living here, Mr Clarke successfully applied for the matters to be adjourned to Narooma Local Court. In explanation to the court Mr Clarke said my client does not wish to be represented by a Batemans Bay solicitor and he had attended from Narooma to represent her. Police did not oppose the application and Magistrate David Degnan adjourned the matters to Narooma Local Court on April 12. The eight animal cruelty charges include failing to alleviate pain, suffering and distress to 39 cats by being confined in appalling unhygienic and very dark conditions; failing to alleviate pain, suffering and distress to four cats, 12 puppies and three dogs that were living in their own faeces on the veranda of her house among debris and rubbish; being the person in charge of a female cattle dog did fail to alleviate her pain and suffering by being tethered by a short lead in appalling filth among animals in cages on a back veranda; being in charge of a Major Mitchell bird did fail to alleviate its pain and suffering by being confined in a cage without a perch, with filthy water, without ventilation, and with rodents running freely around the cage. Ms Shepheard is also charged with acts of cruelty to six cats by confining them in small cages and living in their own faeces in appalling unhygienic conditions; committing an act of cruelty to two roosters; committing an act of cruelty to seven birds three roosters, three cockatiels and a dove; and an act of cruelty to two dogs, a male rottweiler and a male cattle dog by failing to alleviate their pain and distress by confining them in a small area that was damp with an overpowering stench of faeces and urine and that they had to walk and lay in it and with no access to clean water.