A 31-year-old Donnybrook man has been fined $5,000 and banned from owning an animal for four years after leaving his elderly American Staffy-cross to suffer untreated cancer and other conditions.
On Monday, Bunbury Magistrates Court heard RSPCA WA received a cruelty complaint in August 2024 about a dog with an ulcer "so large that it looked like it was hanging out of its mouth".
A police officer had directed the offender to take the 14-year-old female dog named Dufus to a vet - an RSPCA WA inspector attended the home when he didn't comply.
There she saw Dufus whom she described as having a large, red-coloured ulcerated mass on the right side of her mouth and jaw. The inspector noted that the mass had a pungent odour and was oozing blood and liquid that was dripping onto the floor.
Dufus was subsequently seized. A vet examination determined she had a large, painful ulcerated mass on her lower right lip and jaw, which was later confirmed to be cancer.
The mass had been allowed to grow to such a size and extent that removing it would require multiple complicated surgeries, and healing may not be possible.
In addition, she had severely infected teeth located near the mass, severe arthritis affecting multiple joints and her spine, and kidney dysfunction.
An RSPCA WA vet administered a course of pain relief; however, Dufus was still in pain and her condition was deteriorating. She was humanely euthanised 12 days after being seized.
In sentencing, Magistrate Joanne Andretich said the offender's "inability and failure to take Dufus to receive medical attention was grossly negligent … the tumour was huge and clearly visible."
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said Dufus was suffering from multiple painful problems which should have been addressed well in advance.
"Dufus was elderly and clearly suffering – this was the biggest mouth tumour I have ever seen," she said.
"How anyone can see that day after day and do nothing is beyond me."
The offender was sentenced under section 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. He was found to have been cruel to Dufus in that he allowed her to suffer harm that could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The offender was also ordered to pay $3,167 in costs.
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 at Report cruelty
