7 June 2022

A 41-year-old East Victoria Park woman has been fined $2750 for failing to provide adequate shelter for her dog and failing to comply with a direction notice from the RSPCA.

In May 2021, RSPCA WA received reports about concerns for the welfare of a dog at a home in East Victoria Park.

Inspectors attended the property and saw a large tan and white mixed-breed dog, Freckles, in the back yard. Although he was a little thin, he was not emaciated and not in such a condition to warrant his being seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

The inspectors’ main concern was one-year-old Freckles didn’t appear to have adequate shelter. As no one was home, instructions to contact the RSPCA were left at the house, along with a bag of dog food.

Freckle’s owner, the offender, was subsequently issued written directions requiring her to provide the dog with proper and sufficient food and proper and sufficient shelter.

While Freckles had put on weight at the inspector’s next visit, the Perth Magistrates Court heard the offender failed to provide shelter for him and he was subsequently seized and taken to the RSPCA’s Animal Care Centre in Malaga where he remains.

Inspector Manager Kylie Green said adequate shelter is an essential and basic need when it comes to our pets.

‘It continues to astound me how many cases we get where the bare necessities like food, water, shelter and vet care aren’t being provided for animals,’ Kylie said.

‘In this case, Freckles was in a yard in the middle of one of Perth’s wettest winters on record with no real way to get out of the wind, rain and cold.

‘There’s no excuse for that.’

RSPCA WA thanked Zoe Gilders of ZG Criminal Law for acting pro bono for RSPCA WA throughout this prosecution, leading to this conviction.

In addition to the fine, the offender was also ordered to pay $688.85 in costs.

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 online here.