Man Charged Over Animal Cruelty and Sheep Deaths in Canberra
A 27-year-old man faces multiple criminal charges and an arrest warrant remains active for a teenager following an alleged burglary and animal cruelty attack at a rural property near the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong, nine.com.au reported.
Arrests and Charges in Canberra South Investigation
ACT Police charged the 27-year-old man with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals causing death, two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious injury, and aggravated burglary. The charges stem from an incident on the night of September 16, when investigators allege several individuals entered the rural property in Canberra’s south. According to 7NEWS, officers from the Major Crime unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Richardson on October 8, seizing items allegedly linked to the offenses. Following the search, an 18-year-old man was arrested and charged on October 9. Authorities are still searching for a second teenager involved in the incident, and an arrest warrant has been issued.
Property Ransacked and Animals Trapped
Investigators allege that the intruders used dogs to round up eight sheep on the property, forcing them into a holding pen. Inside the enclosure, multiple animals sustained deliberate injuries. One sheep died at the scene, while three others required euthanasia due to the severity of their wounds. Two additional sheep suffered serious injuries in the attack. The property owner returned on the morning of September 17 to discover the injured livestock and notified law enforcement. In addition to the animal cruelty offenses, the residential home located on the rural property was entered and ransacked, leaving extensive disruption inside.