A 67-year-old Southern River woman will never be able to breed dogs again after receiving a permanent prohibition from being in charge of any animals in the Perth Magistrates Court today.
The importer and breeder of Pomeranian dogs was sentenced on 23 counts of animal cruelty over the state of animals found at a Southern River property. Fifty animals in ill-health were discovered by RSPCA WA at the site which was running primarily as a Pomeranian puppy breeding operation.
As well as the lifetime prohibition, Magistrate Joe Randazzo also imposed a 12 months' term of imprisonment, suspended for 15 months. The offender was also ordered to pay nearly $65,000 in animal care costs and legal fees related to the case.
On 24 June 2025, the woman's 34-year-old son was fined $92,000 and banned from being in charge of an animal for five years on charges related to the same matter.
An RSPCA WA inspector attended the property in July 2024 after receiving a cruelty report from a WA Police Detective alleging a large number of small breed dogs in 'poor condition' at the home.
The female offender told the inspector she was a dog breeder and owned all of the dogs, but was unsure of how many she had.
The inspector noted a strong smell of faeces as she approached the large kennel block on the property and saw a build-up of dog faeces in the drains outside of the kennels. Multiple Pomeranians were confined in the kennels either by themselves or in groups of up to four and they had dirty, matted coats.
There was urine covering the floors of the kennels, the kennel drains were clogged with fur and faeces, and the dogs only had access to hard plastic beds without any bedding.
Some of the dogs appeared to have significant dental disease or were in poor body condition, some were spinning inside their kennels which indicated concerning neurological conditions, and some were extremely fearful and displayed abnormal psychological behavioural reactions to the inspector's presence.
The offender advised she was unsure of the last time the dogs had been seen by a vet. She said she checked on the animals 'every day' but had not checked on the kennels yet that week nor fed them since the day before.
Six dogs and three cats were surrendered to RSPCA WA that day as it was visually evident they required urgent vet care. Upon examination, RSPCA WA vets realised the animals' health concerns were more severe than first thought.
RSPCA WA inspectors returned to the property and, due to suspected offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002, she removed 41 animals, including six seized dogs, 30 surrendered dogs, three surrendered chickens and two surrendered deceased roosters.
In sentencing, Magistrate Randazzo noted the woman's previous conviction for animal cruelty in 2013.
He said, "In light of gross neglect over a not insignificant period of time" "the need to protect animals in the future is so significant and weighty that it overrides your desire to be in charge of dogs"; and it was "reasonable to infer that there is a real concern whether you should be able to keep animals in the future."
"There were a significant number of animals that suffered harm over a significant amount of time"; "they were subjected to cruelty"; "all animals were vulnerable [and] wholly dependent on you."
"Your offending is so serious that imprisonment is only appropriate sentencing imposed on you".
In refusing to return dogs related to the case to the offender he said, "Returning any of these dogs to you would be an affront to the need to protect them. That was the very reason they were seized and taken out of your charge... to return any of these dogs to you is tantamount to returning the abused to the abuser."
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the dogs and puppies presented with a myriad of health problems related to their confinement and lack of veterinary care.
"Two dogs were sadly humanely euthanised on vet advice," she said. "All other animals removed from the property have either been adopted or continue to recover in foster care.
"It's a credit to our expert staff and network of dedicated foster carers that the dogs have come as far as they have, but this case is a stark reminder of what people need to stop and consider when they are looking to buy a 'cute' puppy.
"If you buy off the internet or social media, or if you buy without seeing for yourself the puppy is being raised in clean, safe conditions and its mum is happy and healthy, then there's a real possibility you are supporting this kind of cruelty.
"What our inspectors saw at this property, and what our vet staff, animal attendants, and behavioural specialists had to work through with these dogs and puppies should not be a reality for any animal."
The offenders were each sentenced under sections 19(1), 19(3)(b)(ii), 19(3)(d), and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA asserted they were cruel to the animals in that they confined them in a manner that caused or was likely to cause unnecessary harm; they did not provide them with sufficient food and water; and they could have alleviated their harm by taking reasonable steps.
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 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or via rspcawa.org.au.
