A 30-year-old Donnybrook man has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly leaving his elderly brindle American Staffy cross to suffer untreated cancer and other conditions.
RSPCA WA received a cruelty complaint in August about a dog with an ulcer "so large that it looked like it was hanging out of its mouth".
A police officer had directed a male occupant at the property to take the 14-year-old dog to a vet - an RSPCA WA inspector attended the accused's home when he didn't comply.
There she saw the dog whom she described as having a large, red-coloured ulcerated mass on the right side of her mouth and jaw.
The inspector noted that the mass had a pungent odour and was oozing blood and liquid that was dripping onto the floor.
The dog was subsequently seized with a vet examination determining she had a large, painful ulcerated mass on her lower right lip and jaw, which was likely cancerous. The mass had been allowed to grow to such a size and extent that removing it would require multiple complicated surgeries, and healing may not be possible.
In addition, the dog had severely infected teeth located near the mass, severe arthritis affecting multiple joints and her spine, and kidney dysfunction.
An RSPCA WA vet administered a course of pain relief however the dog was still in pain and her condition was deteriorating. She was humanely euthanised 12 days after being seized.
The accused has been charged under section 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege he was cruel to the dog in that he allowed her to suffer harm that 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 charges will be heard in Bunbury Magistrates Court on 12 December 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.
