Geraldton woman receives lifetime animal ban for starving dog
A 44-year-old Geraldton woman has received a prohibition order permanently banning her from being in charge of an animal over the condition of her one-year-old Staffy whippet cross.
She was also fined $6,000 after being found guilty of animal cruelty.
Geraldton Magistrates Court heard RSPCA WA inspectors attended the offender’s Wonthella address in August 2024 year following a cruelty report in relation to the emaciated dog.
They observed Coco was severely emaciated with the outline of her hips, ribs and spine clearly visible. She also had pressure sores on her legs and back end, and her tail was at an unusual angle.
The inspectors seized Coco and took her to a local vet who concluded she was severely emaciated, had no discernible body fat, and had lost most of her muscle mass.
Coco was weak and lethargic, was mildly to moderately dehydrated, had an old fracture in her tail which was painful when touched, was anaemic likely due to malnutrition, and had pressure sores from lying on hard surfaces with a lack of muscle and body fat to pad her body.
The vet estimated Coco’s condition indicated a severe lack of nutrition for longer than six months and that she had stunted growth. Her expected weight would be around 15kg however she weighed just 9.8kg. She has since recovered in RSPCA WA foster care.
In sentencing, Magistrate Andrew Wadham said the case was “a serious example of neglect” and that a message needs to be sent “to current and prospective owners, if they take on responsibility of a dog it must be taken seriously”.
Inspector Manager Kylie Green said Coco’s condition was heartbreaking to see.
“Coco was severely underweight and not only suffering from the lack of food and water but also from sores related to being so skinny,” she said.
“There is no excuse for an animal to reach such an horrific state. We implore people to reach out for help if they have found themselves in difficult times.”
The offender was sentenced under section 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. She was found to have been cruel to Coco by not providing her with sufficient food and water.
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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