A 56-year-old Cloverdale man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly kicking, dragging and punching his Staffordshire terrier during three separate incidents in Kewdale and Belmont.
An RSPCA WA inspector seized the dog in October 2023 after a member of the public reported seeing the accused forcefully kicking her in the stomach on Gabriel Street Kewdale, before walking the dog across the road in front of oncoming tracking while forcefully kicking her backside.
Later that day, members of the public say they saw the accused beating the dog in the backyard of a Kewdale property.
They observed the man dragging and lifting the dog by her collar, throwing her on a couch, holding her up by her collar and beating her in the lower back for three to four minutes with what appeared to be a broomstick, pinning her down and picking her up by the head before smashing her into the ground and then forcefully slapping her.
That evening, the accused was seen forcefully punching the dog in the chest three times at the Belmont Forum Shopping Centre before he kicked and dragged her across the carpark.
A member of the public described the dog as being terrified and scared of the accused. The person intervened and told the accused to stop hurting her.
The accused yelled and swore at the person before whacking the dog with an open hand and forcefully punching her with a closed fist.
A vet check of the dog revealed she was exhibiting abnormal behaviour likely initiated by physical abuse.
The vet was also of the opinion the dog was likely to have suffered soft tissue injuries causing pain for several days.
The dog is recovering in RSPCA WA foster care.
The accused has been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege he was cruel to an animal in that he maliciously beat the dog.
The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The charge will be heard in Perth Magistrates Court on 16 February 2024.
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.
