Jail looms for vet on cruelty

A VET banned from keeping animals after she was convicted of gross animal cruelty is facing jail after claiming she did not understand she couldn't keep dogs, horses and a bird.

Julie Tilbrook wept in court yesterday as she held up a photo of one of her horses, telling a magistrate it felt sad and knew welfare inspectors were coming to take it.
RSPCA officers seized two stallions, five dogs and a canary - all in good condition - from her Lara property in January.
Tilbrook yesterday faced Geelong Magistrates' Court to answer eight new charges of owning animals in violation of a court order.
The fresh charges breached a six-month suspended sentence imposed last September after she was found guilty of starving and mistreating 22 horses, some of which were near death.
She was disqualified from owning animals for five years.
The court yesterday heard that Tilbrook last year applied for a stay of an order to remove the dogs, horses and bird so she could appeal the magistrate's ruling.
But it was rejected by a County Court judge on December 20 last year, meaning she could no longer keep the animals.
On January 15 RSPCA inspectors seized a Jack Russell terrier, four kelpies, two stallions and a canary.
Tilbrook, who represented herself, said she was distressed and confused by the judge's decision, and asked her daughters to feed the animals while she got legal advice.
"I told my daughter, 'I'm going to get out of town because I have a feeling they are going to lock me up'."
Tilbrook said she camped "up country" with no water because she feared a set-up.
She said she was forced back to her Lara house because it was being vandalised, but claimed she did not go near the animals.
Tilbrook showed magistrate Michael Coghlan a picture of a stallion removed by the RSPCA in January.
"This is a very sad horse. That is a horse who knows he is the next one. He has seen people come to the property and take away his herd," she said, crying.
Mr Coghlan said Tilbrook organised someone else to care for the animals because she knew the ban was in effect and was trying to get around it.
He said he was satisfied the animals were in her possession.
Mr Coghlan urged Tilbrook to hire a lawyer and arrange material relating to mental health problems.
"You are facing a significant term of imprisonment. It concerns me there may be material that may put things in a different light," he said.
Prosecutor Andrew Halse said the RSPCA hoped to find the animals new owners.
Tilbrook faces court on May 29. Click here to go to the Herald Sun website for this story