14 December 2012

A 27-year-old Waggrakine woman pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty in Geraldton Magistrates Court today and was fined $2000, banned from owning animals for three years, and ordered to pay $1030 in costs to the RSPCA.

When RSPCA’s Geraldton Inspector visited Taran Corterill’s property in May this year, they found an 18-month-old female border collie, Rusty, in a dazed and unsteady state, and extremely emaciated with bones showing through her skin, hips, ribs, shoulder blades, head, leg and tail bones.

There was no evidence of food or water in the yard. 

The owner claimed not to know how Rusty came to be in this state, and that she could not afford to take the dog to the vet. She then surrendered Rusty to the RSPCA. Rusty was taken to a veterinary clinic where she was found to be dehydrated and pale, her temperature was low, and she was deemed to be emaciated.

It was the opinion of the treating veterinarian that the only reason for the emaciation and dehydration of Rusty was due to lack of food and water.

Rusty later made a full recovery and was re-homed by the RSPCA (Rusty pictured after two weeks of TLC).

The RSPCA would like to thank the volunteers at our Geraldton Auxiliary.