Court orders 18-year ban on animal ownership for Auckland woman

An Auckland woman with a history of animal hoarding has been confirmed in an 18-year ban on owning animals by the Court of Appeal. Tatyana Kondratyeva’s appeal against her sentence was dismissed, leaving the disqualification order imposed this year in place until 2044.

The ban stems from a 2021 conviction where Kondratyeva was found guilty of breaching a previous 10-year disqualification order established in 2014. That original order followed a 2010 inspection of her home, where SPCA officers found dozens of cats confined to a single-bedroom unit.

During the 2021 investigation, inspectors discovered a property sharing with Kondratyeva’s partner contained between 200 and 300 poultry birds and several cats. The SPCA obtained a warrant for the search on November 24, 2021, citing welfare concerns.

Conditions inside the home included six hens and their chicks in cages too small for them to stand or extend their wings, with two lacking water. Two roosters were found in a bathroom with more than 2cm of faeces on the floor. A pet carrier held two hens, a chick, and a rooster, the latter of which was later euthanized due to severe pain.

Kondratyeva had visited multiple veterinarians in October and November 2021 using a false name to seek help for a cat named Boy and another cat, Sweetie, along with three kittens. The Court of Appeal noted she did not follow professional advice to admit one kitten to 24-hour care and to euthanize Boy, who was emaciated.

The court stated that Boy and one kitten suffered slow and distressing deaths as assessed by the referring veterinarian. A magpie found in a small cage in poor condition was also euthanized after a vet determined it had experienced an extended period of extreme distress.

Kondratyeva was sentenced to 21 months in prison this year, a term that was commuted to home detention when a suitable address became available. She appealed this sentence, arguing for intensive supervision and community detention instead.

The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. A psychiatric report reviewed by the court found no history of mental illness but suggested unresolved grief related to a prior medical condition and her father’s death in Russia may have influenced her behavior. The psychiatrist noted she may have attempted to cope by rescuing injured animals despite lacking the means to care for them.

The judge had previously described her plea change on the day of the trial as a calculated campaign to delay sentencing. The 18-year disqualification order remains the final legal barrier to her owning animals.

The next step in the legal process is now complete with the dismissal of the appeal. Kondratyeva is prohibited from owning animals until 2044 under the current order.