A 45-year-old Cloverdale man has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly trying to castrate a 3.5-month-old goat with a cable tie and dehorning him with a saw.
On 2 January 2024, an RSPCA WA inspector attended the man's property to conduct a welfare check on the goat after receiving a cruelty report.
She observed that the goat's scrotum had a black cable tie around it, and his horns appeared to have recently been cut very short.
The accused told the inspector he had placed the cable tie around the goat's scrotum to castrate him after finding the method online. He said he did not consult a veterinarian. The goat's testicles appeared white in colour and were swollen and cold to the touch. There was pus-type discharge around the cable tie and dried blood and fluid down the goat's leg.
The accused also told the inspector he had dehorned the goat by using a saw. He said he made a paste of aspirin and rubbed it on the goats' horns for the pain.
The inspector seized the goat and transported him to the Animal Care Centre in Malaga where vets immediately noted a strong odour of necrotic tissue. The goat was suffering severe pain from the castration attempt and subsequent necrosis. He was also suffering from his horns being cut off too short which exposed soft tissue and caused bleeding.
Emergency surgery was performed to remove the goat's testicles to avoid potential septicaemia and it was later confirmed his scrotum and the right side of his face were infected.
The accused has been charged under section 19(1) and 19(2)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It is alleged that he was cruel to an animal in that he that he caused the goat unnecessary harm by trying to sterilise the goat and dehorn him himself, which was not properly treated by a veterinarian.
The charge will be heard in the Perth Magistrates Court on 7 June, 2024.
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 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.
