A 32-year-old woman and 36-year-old man have been convicted of animal cruelty after RSPCA WA inspectors were alerted to two skinny dogs abandoned at a Port Kennedy property. Collectively they were fined more than $12,000 and banned from owning animals for five years.
Rockingham Magistrates Court heard an RSPCA WA inspector attended the property in early 2023 following a cruelty report alleging there were two emaciated male Staffordshire-terriers, Houdini and Houston, in a backyard. The female offender was issued a written direction notice to provide both dogs with proper and sufficient food. She proceeded to slam the front door in the inspector's face.
Not long after the initial visit, RSPCA WA was alerted to the dogs having been abandoned at the property. A Department of Communities representative confirmed the offenders had vacated the house. The representative let the inspector into the home where she observed both dogs in poor body condition with the outline of their ribs, hips and spine protruding. They had no food and only a little water in a stock pot. They were surrendered to RSPCA WA by the representative and transported to the Malaga Animal Care Centre for immediate treatment.
Houdini weighed just 10.3kg (with his ideal weight 18kg) and had a body condition score of 2/9 (with 4.5/9 considered ideal). Houston weighed 13.1kg (with his ideal weight 22kg) and had a body condition score of 1.5/9. He collapsed in his kennel while in care which the vet suspected was due to his emaciated condition. Both dogs were put on feeding regimes and were able to gain enough weight to reach their ideal body weight a month later. They were both eventually adopted into different homes.
In sentencing, Magistrate Brian Mahon said both of the offenders failed to discharge their responsibility to each of the dogs in the case.
"The legislation is clear that serious minimum penalties apply to these offences," he said.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said there was no excuse for letting an animal starve.
"Houdini and Houston were severely underweight when they arrived at RSPCA WA and it was even more disheartening to know they had been abandoned in that condition," she said. "Both dogs are happily adopted and living much better lives now, but I am pleased they were afforded some justice today."
The offenders were sentenced under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. They were found to have been cruel to the dogs in that they did not provide them with proper and sufficient food. The female offender was also sentenced under sections 19(3)(f) and 40(2). She was found to have been cruel to the dogs by abandoning them and failing to comply with a written direction notice.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a written direction notice is a $20,000 fine and one year 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 at rspcawa.org.au.
