17 May 2022

A 68-year-old Kenwick man has been fined $7500 after leaving his dog to suffer a multitude of medical conditions, without treatment, in a case the RSPCA has described as ‘heartbreaking’.

The offender was found guilty of animal cruelty in the Perth Magistrates Court today after failing to take his nine-year-old Mastiff-crossbreed, Brutus, to a vet.

This was despite Brutus having a large, raised, open red growth on the right side of his face; a large amount of green pus oozing from his  eyes; and flies covering his hips and back end.

RSPCA WA received a cruelty report about a dog in Kenwick in October last year. Despite trying to engage with the offender, the attending inspector was unable to gain access to the backyard to see and assess the dog.

Using a ladder, the inspector was able to look over the fence where she saw Brutus lying near a stained mattress.

Seeing he was in a bad way, the inspector called Maddington Fire Station to assist with removing padlocks on the gates so she could enter the yard.

Once in the backyard, the inspector approached Brutus, who was obviously very ill.

A dirty bowl was located near his head and a bucket full of green water was nearby.

Brutus seemed unable to stand so firefighters helped the inspector, who had made the decision to seize the dog, get him to her vehicle.

RSPCA WA vets examined Brutus and determined he needed 24-hour care, so he was transferred to Perth Vet Emergency. In the early hours of the next morning, Brutus suffered cardiac arrest and was unable to be resuscitated.

A post-mortem revealed the large mass on Brutus’s face was a malignant tumour that would have been present and detectable for at least two months and would likely have been cured by surgery in the early stages.

Instead, as shown by the post mortem, the primary cancer had spread throughout Brutus’s body.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager, Kylie Green, said her heart breaks for Brutus who deserved so much more.

‘No animal should be left to suffer like Brutus did, there is absolutely no need for it,’ Kylie said.

‘It’s hard to think about the amount of pain he was in, or how long he had to endure it.

‘It is an offence to fail to seek vet treatment for your pets when needed and as has happened in this case, you can be prosecuted and penalised.

‘I urge anyone who is unable to provide the required vet treatment for their pets to reach out before the animal begins to suffer.’

The offender, who wasn’t in court today, was also ordered to pay $2069.14 in reimbursement costs and $259.30 in prosecution costs. The magistrate adjourned a decision on an animal ownership prohibition until 8 June.  

Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or online here.