WARNING - images are distressing.
A 33-year-old man has been given an eight-month immediate prison term for animal cruelty while his 46- year-old male and 33-year-old female co-accused were handed 8-month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months. All three were also banned from owning an animal for five years.
The trio were all deemed to be responsible for a 9-year-old American bulldog named Betty who was found suffering from untreated cancer and skin disease.
Midland Magistrates Court today heard an RSPCA WA inspector attended an address in Koongamia in June 2022 after WA Police reported a dog in poor condition.
Betty had skin lesions and patches of missing hair, as well as a large fleshy growth near her groin which was bleeding. The inspector seized Betty due to suspected offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and transported her to RSPCA WA in Malaga.
A vet examination found Betty had skin disease that was covering most of her body, which was severe, chronic and painful; had a very large, open, and deep necrotic tumour which was actively bleeding; multiple tumours on other parts of her body; and was anaemic from chronic blood loss due to her tumour and a flea infestation.
The vet determined she was an unstable patient with concerning respiratory distress and was suffering from moderate to marked chronic pain. She was humanely euthanised on vet advice.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mark Millington said, "the photos are distressing … photos speak a thousand words for what the dog went through." He said the dog "suffered significant harm and significant pain and distress … you failed to provide that dog with treatment."
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said for three adults to all disregard Betty's condition was disgraceful.
"Betty was in visible chronic pain with an open and actively bleeding tumour and these three people left her to suffer," she said.
"Imagine being left to bleed out by the person responsible for your care. Betty faced unnecessary harm which could have been addressed if she was taken to a vet in the first instance."
All three offenders were sentenced under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. Each was found to have been cruel to an animal in that they allowed the dog to suffer 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 first accused will serve the immediate prison term concurrently with a sentence he is already serving on other matters.
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.
