13 September 2013

A Doubleview man today pleaded guilty to one charge of animal cruelty and was fined $7500, banned from owning dogs for 18 months and ordered to pay costs to the RSPCA of $1370.

The man was charged by RSPCA with one count of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

On the 5th of September 2012, RSPCA Inspector attended a Doubleview property in response to a cruelty complaint and discovered a 12-year-old female brindle greyhound, known as “Bade”, in an emaciated state, not moving, lying up against a concrete wall with no bedding or shelter. The dog was unable to stand and was emaciated with a large, fly-infested cancerous tumour in its mouth.

The dog was rushed to RSPCA’s veterinary clinic for assessment and due to the dog’s complex, serious medical problems; the dog was euthanased on humane grounds. The treating veterinarian concluded that the dog’s multiple medical problems would have been visually obvious for some time and that the dog suffered a tremendous amount of unnecessary pain and suffering which could have been alleviated by taking the dog to a veterinarian at a much earlier date.

In a record of interview with the RSPCA, Young admitted that he owned the dog and was aware of its condition but could not afford to take the dog to a vet.

In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Scadden stated that there was “demonstrable evidence that it must have suffered significantly and it is a clear case where the dog should have been taken to the vet.

“An animal has no way of speaking on its own behalf and that there is a need for specific and general deterrent where a dog has suffered so much,” Magistrate Scadden said.