A 32-year-old Eden Hill woman has been convicted on four charges of animal cruelty and fined $13,000 for failing to provide two dogs, a cat, and a kitten with sufficient food and water, leaving them emaciated, malnourished, and dehydrated. She has also been banned from being in charge of an animal for two years.
The Midland Magistrates Court heard RSPCA WA inspectors attended the offender's home in January after a WA Police officer reported concerns for a "skeletal" dog who was wobbly on his feet.
They saw a two-year-old brindle and white large mixed breed dog named Nala and a seven-year-old tan Mastiff cross named Neil in the backyard. The outlines of Nala's ribs, hips and spine were clearly visible; Neil was in a similar emaciated state and was lethargic. There was no food or water available to the dogs.
Both dogs were seized for immediate treatment and care. It took 15 minutes to be able to coax Neil to stand up and walk.
Vet examinations found the dogs were emaciated and dehydrated; it was also suspected the lack of fluids meant Neil's heart wasn't pumping enough blood to his body and his prolonged starvation had caused severe muscle loss.
A two-year-old black and white cat named Francesca and an eight-week-old black and white kitten named
Fergus were also found at the property. They were seen by inspectors inside the house frantic and pacing and were also subsequently seized. Both cats were dehydrated; Fergus was in poor body condition, and it appeared his prominent source of nutrition had been insects. Francesca was found to be pregnant and also in poor body condition.
All four animals have since recovered. Nala gained nearly 14 kilograms in the first three months in RSPCA WA's care and Neil more than 20 kilos. Francesca gave birth to five healthy kittens four weeks after being seized. Neil, the cats, and kittens are all in foster care, Nala remains under vet care at the RSPCA.
In sentencing, Magistrate Paul Lyons said photos of the emaciated dogs revealed "quite frankly an appalling state of malnutrition and dehydration". He said, "The extent to which the animals must have suffered was significant" and "the animals must have been starving".
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said this was a shocking case of neglect.
"The offender offered up several excuses for the animals ending up in such an appalling state, but when all is said and done, they were starving and dehydrated – one of them carrying five kittens and another barely able to stand and walk," she said.
"Animals don't end up in the state these were in overnight – this was prolonged suffering which the offender ignored. It's awful to think what these animals went through."
The offender was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. She was found to have been cruel to Nala, Neil, Francesca, and Fergus by not providing proper and sufficient food and water. She was also ordered to pay an additional $4,732 in costs. The ownership of all animals was forfeited to RSPCA WA.
The maximum penalty for a conviction 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 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or via rspcawa.org.au.
