A 39-year-old Port Kennedy man has been charged with failing to alleviate harm after RSPCA WA received a cruelty report alleging his Siberian Husky puppy was suffering from untreated injuries.
In September 2022, an RSPCA WA inspector attended the man's home and observed the four-month-old puppy was timid and hiding from the accused. He stated the puppy was not friendly toward him.
He explained the puppy would try to bite him after he gave her a 'smack' for toileting inside and that she had a 'sore leg' after he had stepped on her when she ran through his legs.
The inspector directed the accused to take the puppy to a vet which he did later that day.
Upon examination, it was discovered the puppy had a right eye haemorrhage that suggested blunt trauma; short and curled whiskers which indicated they had been burnt; a shattered right femur and femoral head with a significant degree of bone remodelling which indicated the injury was four to six weeks old; and a fractured left fore foot. The vet suggested the puppy was 10/10 lame in her right hind leg and had a pain score of 3/5.
The accused surrendered the puppy and she was transported to the RSPCA WA Animal Care Centre. Further examination uncovered she had fractures which were not healing and chronic rib fractures.
The puppy was euthanised on humane grounds due to a poor prognosis for long-term comfort as a result of multiple fractures affecting all limbs, the pelvis and growth plates.
The accused has been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege the accused was cruel to an animal in that she suffered harm which could have been alleviated by him taking reasonable steps.
The charges will be heard in Rockingham Magistrates Court on 7 October 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
