Court orders dog ban

A Trafalgar man facing 91 animal cruelty offences has been ordered to relocate his three dogs as a condition of his bail.

Hugh Radford, 52, allegedly used illegal hunting dogs to cause “unreasonable pain and suffering” to sambar deer, wombats, kangaroos and brush tail possums.

During a video link hearing at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Simon Garnett gave Mr Radford 24 hours to relocate his dogs into someone else’s care.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning prosecutor Jonathan Makary requested the court impose a ban on Mr Radford owning dogs.

The court heard he had three dogs in his care. The special condition placed on his bail stated he was “not to possess, be in charge of or in control of any dog of any breed whatsoever.”

Mr Makary said Mr Radford should not be in possession of any dogs until the matters had been heard by the court.

Defence lawyer James Livy said the accused accepted the bail condition.

Mr Radford has been charged under the Wildlife Act 1995 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1996.

The charges relate to allegations of animal cruelty offences, including aggravated cruelty resulting in death, between March 2018 and July 2020.

It is alleged the offences occurred on more than 20 occasions, largely around West Gippsland including Noojee, Vesper, Icy Creek, Jericho, Piedmont, Loch Valley and near Warragul and Trafalgar.

The matter was adjourned until October 13.