Armadale man convicted over puppy beatings
WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT
A 56-year-old Armadale man has been convicted of four counts of animal cruelty for maliciously beating, abusing, tormenting and otherwise ill-treating his Staffy crossbreed puppy on four occasions between November 2024 and May 2025 – the first when she was just eight weeks old.
Armadale Magistrate’s Court heard RSPCA WA received a cruelty report about the alleged incidents on 27 May 2025. The report included four audio recordings of the offender committing the offences. In them he can be heard shouting repetitive obscenities at Jarna for toileting in the house. He was also shouting
threats including, “I’ll beat your f*cking head in … you’re going to f*cking die.”
In each of the recordings, the offender can be heard punching and otherwise physically abusing Jarna. The puppy can be heard loudly and repeatedly screaming, crying, and yelping in response. Twice the offender can be heard strangling Jarna, causing her to make gargling, choking, and half-screeching noises as she attempted to cry out.
Two RSPCA WA inspectors attended the offender’s address that same morning and seized the puppy due to suspected offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
A subsequent vet examination found Jarna had significant bruising on her head, tongue, neck, and ear canals, and fractures at the base and right side of her skull, as well as a wrist fracture. One of the skull fractures was deemed chronic which suggested a history of trauma. She continues to recover in foster care.
Following a two-day trial, Magistrate Mark Millington found the offender guilty on all four counts of animal cruelty, describing the way he spoke to Jarna as “disgusting”, “aggressive” and “someone who sounds like they’ve lost control”.
The offender will be sentenced 24 September 2026. RSPCA WA told the court it regarded this case as very serious and suggested a term of imprisonment is clearly open.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green described the offender’s abuse of Jarna as disgusting.
“The level of violence directed at Jarna is some of the worst deliberate cruelty I’ve ever encountered,” she said.
“The recordings almost defy belief – it’s hard to imagine anyone deliberately and repeatedly inflicting so much pain and terror on a puppy. Frankly, it’s sickening.
“Today’s outcome sends a clear message that if you choose to behave like that, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.”
The offender was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.
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