EBENEZER man Marcello Scali has been fined $30,000 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.
The RSPCA prosecuted Scali because he failed to properly care for a number of horses, as well as a donkey and goat, on his property in Ebenezer.
He appeared in Windsor Local Court on September 23, where he pleaded guilty to nine charges of animal cruelty brought against him.
Along with the fines and community service, Scali has been banned from acquiring stock animals for three years.
The RSPCA said they had received complaints about Scali since October, 2013.
A number of investigations at his property between October, 2013 and May, 2015 found the animals on his property were malnourished and in poor health, often suffering from parasites.
The RSPCA noted that despite frequent investigations on the property, he failed to feed or properly care for his animals.
One horse was found to be in such poor condition it was decided the best course of action was to put it down.
