Sonya Gapes found guilty of 126 counts of animal abuse in Townsville, Queensland
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Woman found guilty of 126 counts of animal abuse after leaving more than 80 dogs in unsanitary conditions without food
- Sonya Gapes sentenced for 126 counts of animal cruelty
- Gapes mistreated 111 animals, many malnourished, dirty and in discomfort
A woman who left 111 pets living in unsanitary conditions without enough food was found guilty and fined $155,000
Sonya Lesley Gapes, 52, was convicted of 126 counts of animal cruelty and deemed “ill-equipped” to handle pets.
Representing herself at Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Gapes said more than 20 dogs had been euthanized for behavioral reasons since the RSPCA took them away in June 2021, but the RSPCA’s Rebecca Collyer said the number was less than 20.
Gapes was found guilty in December of last year of mistreating and neglecting animals, including more than 80 dogs, several birds and some cats.
She was charged with 55 counts of failing to provide adequate housing or living conditions and 46 counts of failing to provide adequate food and water.
Sonya Lesley Gapes, 52, was convicted of 126 counts of animal cruelty and deemed “ill-equipped” to handle pets (pictured, one of the confiscated dogs receiving treatment from the RSPCA)
Gapes was also found guilty of 12 counts of failing to provide proper treatment for injuries and 13 counts of failing to take reasonable steps to accommodate the animals’ needs to display normal patterns of behavior in an appropriate manner.
The maximum penalty for each charge was $43,125, or one year in prison, meaning Gapes could have been fined up to $5.5 million.
She told the court that she was “broke, homeless and unemployed,” the Townsville Newsletter informed.
Justice Mack said Gapes was living in an open tin shed when the RSPCA confiscations occurred and stated that she did not have the necessary income to care for these animals.
“All of the animals owned by the defendant suffered as a result of her inability to maintain them properly,” Judge Mack said.
Gapes was found guilty in December last year of mistreating and neglecting animals, including more than 80 dogs, as well as several birds and some cats (pictured, one of the seized dogs receiving RSPCA treatment)
Gapes was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay the RSPCA $125,000, which Judge Mack said was less than 10 per cent of the amount they have spent since the animals were seized 18 months ago (pictured is shows a cat requiring RSPCA treatment for a head injury)
“This was in the high range of offending and she (Gapes) was ill-equipped to properly care for the animals.”
Judge Mack said that although he believed there was no “malevolence” in Mrs Gapes’s treatment of the animals, they were still found to be malnourished, dirty and living in discomfort.
Gapes was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay the RSPCA $125,000, which Judge Mack said was less than 10 per cent of the amount they had spent since the animals were seized 18 months ago.
Gapes made it clear that he intends to appeal both his conviction and sentence.