A 34-year-old Geraldton woman has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly leaving a dog and a puppy confined inside a house for several weeks without proper and sufficient food and water.
In May, RSPCA WA received a cruelty report about two dogs who were thought to have been abandoned at a Beachlands property.
A City of Greater Geraldton ranger attended the property and confirmed it appeared to be vacant. The ranger saw a Bull Arab puppy and adult boxer confined inside the house.
There was no food or water available for the dogs and there was urine and faeces throughout the house.
The ranger poured seven to nine 1.5L bottles of water through the front door flywire screen which both dogs drank in a desperate manner. Later that day, the ranger pushed some kibble through the screen which the dogs ate.
An RSPCA WA inspector attempted to contact the last known occupant of the property. She was located in Perth and identified as the accused.
The accused told the inspector she had not been at the Beachlands property since 22 April and thought a family member was caring for the dogs. The accused was subsequently directed to provide sufficient and ongoing food and water for the two dogs, starting that day.
The written directions were not complied with and a warrant to enter the property was subsequently obtained by an RSPCA WA inspector who seized the dogs and took them to a local vet. The dogs were confirmed to be moderately underweight and mildly dehydrated. They also had infections from living in the soiled environment for a long period of time.
The dogs were transported to the RSPCA in Malaga, underwent vet care, and have since been recovering in foster care.
The accused has been charged under section 19(1), 19(3)(b)(ii), and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege she was cruel to the animals in that she failed to provide the dogs with adequate food and water and confined them in a house causing them unnecessary harm.
She was also charged under section 40(2) for failing to comply with two written direction notices.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a written direction is a $20,000 fine and one year in prison.
The charges will be heard in Geraldton Magistrates Court on 28 November 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.
