A 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both from the South West, have been fined a total of $52,300 for a combined 13 convictions of animal cruelty and four of promoting a prohibited activity (17 convictions in total).
Bunbury Magistrates Court heard evidence of the pair using their dogs to attack, torment, abuse, and bring down feral pigs in an unnecessarily cruel manner and that they promoted the prohibited activity by posting videos of themselves releasing feral pigs for the purposes of enabling them to be hunted, fought and chased by a pack of dogs.
The male offender was fined $33,300, $10,000 of which was suspended, and the female offender was fined $19,000, $10,000 of which was suspended. Both offenders had their convictions spent.
While pig hunting in WA is not illegal, RSPCA WA argued the way the pair engaged in the practice was in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and constituted cruelty to animals.
An investigation was launched into the couple after social media videos of them engaging in the illegal activities were brought to the attention of RSPCA WA in August 2022.
In the vision posted to social media, the offenders could be seen allowing pigs to be attacked, abused and tormented by a pack of up to five dogs.
In relation to the dogs used to hunt the pigs, the pair worked and encouraged the dogs to lunge, bite and attack the pigs for extended periods of time.
In sentencing, Magistrate Joanne Andretich said, "There is a distinction between lawful pig hunting and pig hunting not conducted in a humane fashion. The eradication of the pig was delayed for (the) gratification of its captors … it was deliberate, intentional and planned to ensure maximum impact for their audience."
RSPCA WA Team Leader Inspector Genna Haines said the deliberate cruelty seen in the videos was shocking.
"This was not a case against people legally hunting pigs as a form of pest control," Inspector Haines said.
"This was about the illegal way the so-called hunting took place, where already trapped, injured and terrified pigs were held down while dogs were actively encouraged to continue to attack them.
"The pigs suffered prolonged distress while the offenders filmed content for social media, and in many instances the offenders can be heard laughing on the videos.
"None of these actions constitute responsible hunting for pest control and frankly, how anyone can watch and listen to an animal suffering the way the pigs were in the video is beyond me.
"Any animal can experience pain, distress and harm and it is never ok to be cruel to an animal of any species.
"This was unnecessary and orchestrated animal cruelty for the purposes of social media."
The offenders were convicted under sections 19(1), 19(2)(e), 19(3)(b)(ii), and 19(3)(c)(ii) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
They were found to have been cruel to the pigs in that they restrained and captured them in order to inflict unnecessary harm on them. Additionally, the offenders were found to have promoted the prohibited activity of releasing feral pigs purely so they could be hunted, fought and chased by dogs.
The male offender was found to have been cruel to the dogs in that they were worked or otherwise used in a manner that was likely to cause them unnecessary harm.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty and for engaging in a prohibited activity 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.
RSPCA WA thanks the many experts who contributed to this case including Dr Kristine Rayner from DPIRD, Manjimup DBCA officers, Mark Whitehouse from Whitehouse Audio Video Solutions and Consultancy, Mike Butcher from Animal Pest Management Services, and Shire of Manjimup rangers.
