A man and a woman from Ballarat were convicted of two charges each of animal cruelty at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on 12 June 2025.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectors attended a property in Ballarat after receiving an animal cruelty report and found an underweight Staffordshire Bull Terrier with facial scarring and a severe eye injury.
The couple admitted the animal had been in a recent fight and elected to surrender the animal to RSPCA Inspectors.
The assessing veterinarian at RSPCA Victoria said the animal had multiple wounds that would have been obvious to a lay person.
"[The dog] presented to the RSPCA with signs of pain and suffering," said the veterinarian.
"The dog had a severe penetrating injury to her right eye, causing loss of vision, multiple superficial wounds… a foreign tooth embedded in her jowl and was underweight.
"The eye injury, multiple wounds and poor body condition would have been noticeable and identifiable to a lay person and veterinary treatment should have been sought."
His Honour Magistrate Mike Wardell described the co-accused's treatment of the dog as 'disturbing'.
"I think many members of the community would find cruelty to any animal, particularly to a dog, to be disturbing," said His Honour.
"To have an animal that would otherwise love and devote its life to you, to be treated in a way that it is gradually being run into the ground, to the point of dying, is no way to treat any living thing.
"The RSPCA performs an honourable function for the community"
The pair were both placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and disqualified from owning more than two dogs for ten years.
The man was also ordered to pay RSPCA Victoria $1,500.00 and the woman was ordered to pay RSPCA Victoria $750.00.
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said the pair failed in their duty to protect their animal.
""This was an easily preventable situation that should never occurred," said Chief Inspector Green.
"This dog was permanently injured while simply trying to eat and its owners failed to provide the urgent care it needed.
"Eye injuries cause significant pain and every pet owner has a duty of care towards their animals that cannot be ignored."
The relevant offences are covered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Anyone found guilty of cruelty offences can face fines of up to $50,877.5 or 12 months' imprisonment.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/who-to-call or by calling 03 9224 2222.
It's estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.
