RSPCA WA has charged a 33-year-old woman from Broome with cruelty to an animal.
The charge relates to a dog, owned by the accused, that was reported to the RSPCA in December.
The report indicated the Mastiff cross-breed dog had a large amount of ticks on her body and was extremely underweight.
The RSPCA issued the accused with a direction to take the dog to a vet, and provide the RSPCA with the vet's name and a written report on the dog's health. It is alleged the woman did not comply. The dog was seized by a Shire of Broome ranger on behalf of the RSPCA.
An examination of the dog found she had thousands of ticks at different stages in her ears and on her body, was lethargic, in general poor condition with fever and anaemia, and was suffering from the disease ehrlichiosis, caused by the tick infestation.
The accused has been charged under section 19(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 for animal cruelty, and under section 47(3) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 for failure to comply with a written direction, and will appear in the Broome Magistrates Court on 21 June 2021.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or online here.
