A 34-year-old South Hedland man has been fined $3,000 for cruelty to a dog who was described as riddled with "hundreds and hundreds of maggots". He was also ordered to pay $3,689 in costs.
A two-day trial in South Hedland Magistrates Court, which concluded yesterday, heard Town of Port Hedland rangers received a report about the black and white terrier named Koda in September 2024. Koda was described as "skin and bones" with open wounds that were infested with maggots. The wounds were described as so severe that the dog's ribs and organs could be seen in one of them.
Ranger services made a cruelty report to RSPCA WA. An inspector contacted a ranger who advised Koda had since passed away. The RSPCA WA inspector requested the ranger attend the property to seize Koda's body due to suspected offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
An examination of the body by a Port Hedland vet revealed the majority of the dog's torso was covered in a very large number of live maggots, ranging from 1mm to 3mm in length. Koda also had a large number of live maggots crawling through six open wounds, as well as in his nasal and oral cavities. The vet concluded the dog would have suffered as a result of the presence of the maggots.
The vet reported stated that Koda had died from multiple organ failure and sepsis due to the open wounds; and if veterinary assistance had been sought, the dog's wounds could have been successfully treated.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the way Koda was essentially left to die was unthinkable.
"It truly is beyond me to understand how someone can see a dog in that condition and do nothing – let alone someone who is meant to love and care for them," she said.
"What a sad, painful end to life Koda had – I'm glad we were able to get him some justice today."
The offender was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. He was found to have been cruel to Koda in that the dog suffered harm which could have been alleviated 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 at rspcawa.org.au.
