A 37-year-old Maddington man has been charged after WA Police raised concerns about his 10-week-old French bulldog puppy.
In May, RSPCA WA received a cruelty report from a detective who was at the accused's home in relation to another matter. She said she had concerns for the puppy which had an extremely enlarged stomach and was living in squalid conditions.
When RSPCA WA inspectors arrived at the home, they found the puppy was also withdrawn and making whimpering sounds.
A second police officer at the scene told the inspector they had found cannabis all over the floor of the house, which the puppy had access to, and it was likely she had ingested some.
The detective said the puppy didn't have access to any food or water when they found her.
The inspector seized the puppy and she was taken to the RSPCA in Malaga where a vet determined she was suffering from giardia, an intestinal infection.
Police at the scene confirmed the premises were in an unhygienic state, with numerous soiled items and dog faeces throughout, and a number of items on the floor that would be harmful to the puppy if she had ingested them. The puppy remains in the RSPCA's care.
The accused has been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(b)(ii) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It is alleged that he was cruel to an animal in that the puppy was confined in a manner that was likely to cause unnecessary harm.
The charge will be heard in the Armadale Magistrates Court on 11 October.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
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.
