A 45-year-old woman and her 23-year-old daughter, both of Wilson, have been charged with animal cruelty in relation to emaciated dogs found at the younger woman's property.
An RSPCA WA inspector attended the daughter's home in May in response to a cruelty report. There she saw four mixed-breed dogs, all emaciated. Two of the dogs belonged to the mother and two to the daughter. All four lived at the daughter's property.
The inspector seized the dogs and transferred them to the RSPCA in Malaga. A vet examination found all four were emaciated as a result of severe malnutrition.
The mother's dogs were in considerably worse condition than the other two. Each was around 30 per cent under weight and had body scores of one and two out of 9 respectively.
The older woman said she had acquired the dogs in April and because she had been unable to keep them at her address, she had taken them to stay at her daughter's. She claimed she often visited to feed the dogs, a claim the RSPCA disputes given the condition they were found in.
All four dogs remain in the RSPCA's care.
The 23-year-old woman is facing four charges under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It is alleged that she did not provide the four dogs at her house with proper and sufficient food.
The 45-year-old woman is facing two charges under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It is alleged that she did not provide her two dogs with proper and sufficient food.
The charges will be heard in the Perth Magistrates Court on 21 October.
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 online.
