4 May 2021

A 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty to cruelty to his partner’s dog which was left with severe muscle damage after a beating.

The offender has been fined $10,000 and prohibited from being in contact with any animal for a period of 10 years after the Rockingham Magistrates Court heard the offender would kick and punch the dog, Scotty, regularly for digging holes and chewing on things.

The charge was brought under section 19(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

The RSPCA was alerted to the cruelty by a neighbour of the Parmelia offender who said they had heard hitting, punching and kicking noises corresponding with a dog yelping, for an extended period.

On the occasion of the report to the RSPCA in November 2019, the neighbour said they had looked over the fence and had seen the offender wrap something around the Basenji cross dingo’s neck and punch it several times.

When the RSPCA WA inspector attended the address, the offender admitted to hitting, kicking and punching two-year-old Scotty ‘around twice a week for the last few weeks’ and that Scotty would yelp in response.

The inspector seized Scotty and took him to Baldivis Emergency Vet Clinic where he was found to have swelling on his skull and bruising in multiple locations.

Blood tests revealed an elevated enzyme level indicating Scotty had suffered significant muscle damage.

Inspector Manager, Kylie Green, said Scotty suffered deliberate, prolonged cruelty which would have been both terrifying and extremely painful.

“Dogs, especially young dogs like Scotty, get up to mischief but it’s our job as owners to keep them mentally stimulated and teach them in a loving way using positive reinforcement training,” Kylie said.

"It is never ok to physically injure an animal.

"What’s particularly distressing about this case is that Scotty had just been adopted from a rescue group six months earlier; he should have found his secure, forever home but instead learned to live in fear and pain.”

Scotty is now in a safe, loving home.

Kylie thanked the neighbour who made the cruelty report and Baldivis Emergency Vet Clinic for their assistance in this case.

The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or file an online report.