A 51-year-old Port Kennedy man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly failing to seek vet care for his 11-year-old Labrador who was suffering multiple painful conditions.
An RSPCA WA inspector attended Baldivis Vet Hospital in October last year to examine the dog after she was picked up as a stray and taken to the vet by City of Rockingham rangers.
The inspector contacted the dog's owner who claimed she must have escaped his backyard during a storm. He declined to surrender the yellow Lab to RSPCA WA, saying he owned and was responsible for her and her skin condition had started three months earlier.
As the dog's entire body was covered in crusty lumps and open, weeping ulcerated lesions and she had a strong yeast-like odour coming from her skin, the inspector seized the dog due to suspected offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
The accused said he realised the lumps were tumours and he had been treating them with Betadine. He also advised he noticed the dog had been bloated on her side but she had not been to a vet in two years' time. He explained he had not taken her to the vet about her lumps as she was old and there would be nothing the vet could do other than pain management.
The inspector transported the dog to RSPCA WA where a vet examination determined she had a severe generalised skin disease covering the majority of her body, which was causing significant pain and discomfort, she had mild ear infections, painful osteoarthritis and spinal arthritis, incurable and infected lymphoma, and concurrent pulmonary parenchymal changes and increased respiratory rate, which indicated that the cancer had metastasised.
She was provided with pain relief in an attempt to manage her chronic pain but was ultimately humanely euthanised as her quality of life was deemed unacceptable.
The accused has been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege he was cruel to the dog in that she 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 accused will face Rockingham Magistrates Court on 10 February.
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.
