http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/news/local/news/general/cleaner-admits-animal-cruelty/2526227.

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Cleaner admits animal cruelty

18 Apr, 2012 01:29 PM A 68-year-old Batemans Bay cleaner has pleaded guilty to a series of animal cruelty and neglect offences involving more than 30 cats and other animals. Helen Shepheard pleaded to eight charges with her case mentioned at Narooma Local Court last week.

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GUILTY PLEA: Helen Shepheard of Batemans Bay has pleaded guilty to RSPCA animal cruelty and neglect offences. She will not be sentenced until May 17 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be done. RSPCA documents before the court detailed acts of animal cruelty Ms Shepheard was responsible for at her Crown St home in December last year where the animals, including birds and 39 cats, were found neglected and living in filth. Rodents were also found running around. The cleaner was charged with the offences under the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Act. Despite the offences occurring at Batemans Bay where Ms Shepheard lives, she previously successfully applied for the matters to be dealt with before Narooma Local Court. At the time John Clarke, a Narooma-based lawyer, told Batemans Bay Local Court his client did not want to be represented by a Batemans Bay solicitor. The animal cruelty charges Ms Shepheard pleaded guilty to include failing to alleviate pain, suffering and distress to 39 cats the RSPCA states had been confined in appalling unhygienic and very dark conditions, 12 puppies and three dogs living in their own faeces on the back veranda of her house among debris and rubbish; and being in charge of a Major Mitchell bird confined in a cage without a perch, with filthy water, without ventilation, and with rodents running freely around the cage. Ms Shepheard also pleaded to acts of cruelty to six cats by confining them in small cages and living in their own faeces in appalling unhygienic conditions; and committing an act of cruelty to two roosters.