14 July 2026

A 56-year-old Maylands man has been fined $4,500 after being caught on CCTV beating, abusing, and tormenting a dog at a client’s home.

The offender was at the property in Maylands on 23 January 2026 in his role as a physical therapist with a large in-home health and aged care provider.

CCTV footage played in Perth Magistrates Court shows him approaching a 5kg female Jack Russell named Mia who was sitting on a couch.

Mia runs away from him onto a side table between the arm of the couch and the wall. The offender can be heard saying “come on, come on” to Mia before picking up an electric racket-shaped bug zapper - he continues to walk towards the dog until Mia is cornered between him and the wall.

The offender can then be seen hitting Mia with the bug zapper multiple times on various parts of her face and body over a period of around 35 seconds. At one stage he holds the racket up to her face and she growls, resulting in more blows.

Throughout the attack, Mia can be heard vocalising in distress and at one point tries to escape out of a closed window.

The following day, a person caring for the dog saw splatters of what looked like blood on the wall, window, blinds and lampshade where Mia was attacked. The bug zapper racket was damaged and also had red stains on it. He saw Mia had a cut on her nose and Mia was taken to a vet who found she had a nose injury consistent with trauma, and was exhibiting signs of pain and behavioural changes including anxiety and increased clinginess.

A specialist veterinary behaviour consultant who reviewed the CCTV footage concluded Mia experienced severe distress and panic during the incident and may suffer ongoing psychological harm.

In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin White said he accepted the incident was “highly distressing” for Mia and that she was “at times in pain during the offending.” He said, “I accept the og was vulnerable … [it was a] smaller dog” and she “didn’t really have any ability to escape the offending”.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the offender’s actions were impossible to defend. “The repeated and deliberate way he first trapped and then continually hit Mia, tormenting her at times during the incident, can in no way be viewed as a reasonable attempt to get a small dog to get off the couch,” she said.

“From when he first approaches her it is plain to see she is fearful and feels trapped – to beat her while she yelps and barks in distress and desperately tries to get away can only be described as an act of deliberate cruelty which has been recognised today.”

The offender was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. The maximum penalty for an animal cruelty conviction in Western Australia is a $50,000 fine and five years’ imprisonment. Magistrate White issued a spent conviction order. The offender was ordered to pay $1,646.30 in addition to the $4,500 fine.

The RSPCA relies on the community to report suspected cruelty and neglect. Reports can be made on 1300 278 358 or online.