13 June 2025
A 29-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man have been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly failing to provide their one-year-old Staffy with proper and sufficient food.
RSPCA WA received a cruelty report in relation to the emaciated-looking dog at a Hamersley property in June 2023. The report suggested the dog was struggling to move.
When attending the property to investigate, an RSPCA WA inspector saw the dog in the backyard and the outline of his ribs, spine, hips, and shoulder blades were visible. He had a distinct lack of muscle on his limbs.
Upon contacting the female accused, she told the inspector she had struggled with the dog's weight since they purchased him and it would often fluctuate. She said they had not taken him to the vet to determine the cause of his weight loss but that he was up to date with his worming treatment.
The female accused agreed to start the dog on a specialised feeding regime to get him back to an appropriate weight.
Shortly after, the inspector attended the property to check on the dog and could see two large bowls of dog food in the backyard and observed the accused's other dog resource guarding the food and growling at the Staffy. The Staffy was extremely bloated.
Due to suspected offences and the concern he was at risk of re-feeding syndrome, the inspector explained the need to either seize the dog or have him surrendered and the accused agreed to surrender him. He was transported to the Animal Care Centre in Malaga for assessment and treatment.
He was found to have a body condition score of 2/9 (with 4.5/9 considered ideal) as a result of chronic and severe starvation. He had a bloated abdomen which was evidence of rapid re-feeding and he was also suffering from an ear infection.
After months of work to rehabilitate the dog, he was eventually humanely euthanised due to behaviour which made him unsafe to release back into the community.
The accused have been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege the accused were cruel to the dog in that they did not provide him with proper and sufficient food.
The charges will be heard in Perth Magistrates Court on 20 June 2025.
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 at rspcawa.org.au
