A 43-year-old-man, 38-year-old woman, and a 61-year-old woman have been charged with animal cruelty after failing to seek vet care for their German shepherd who was suffering from allergy-related skin issues.
An RSPCA WA inspector attended a Midland property in December 2023 after receiving a cruelty report in relation to an injured large breed dog that was living in squalor.
The male accused advised the inspector the eight-year-old German shepherd had a foul smell due to allergies and that when he last took the dog to a vet three months prior, he was told to give the dog antihistamines and was not required to return to the vet. He added the dog had been "very sick" for the last three days.
The inspector observed the dog was in very poor body condition, his ribs were easily palpable, he had an abnormal gait on his back legs and had patches of fur missing with crusty scabs across his back and neck.
The male accused told the inspector he had been feeding the dog cat biscuits and had difficulties finding allergenic food. He also said he had been trying to resolve the dog's allergies using home remedies.
Upon checking with the vet the dog had last seen, the inspector learned he last saw the vet six months prior and the vet had recommended monthly recheck appointments but the accused had not brought the dog back.
The inspector wrote the accused a written direction to take the dog to a vet within the next 24 hours to address his weight loss and skin issues and advised of payment plan options. The accused screwed up the notice and said the dog would have skin issues for his whole life.
The accused failed to comply with the notice and surrendered the dog to RSPCA WA. He was humanely euthanised after it was evident his prognosis was guarded, and he was only minimally responding to pain relief. He was very underweight, suffering from chronic skin disease and ear infections, had ulcerated and infected wounds all over his body, open wounds on his rear end, and painful osteoarthritis affecting all four limbs.
The accused have been charged under sections 19(1), 19(3)(d), and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege they were cruel to the dog in that they did not provide him with proper and sufficient food and that he suffered harm which could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.
The male accused was also charged under section 40(2) for failing to comply with a written direction.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. Failing to comply with a direction order attracts a maximum penalty of a $20,000 fine and one year imprisonment.
The charges will be heard in Midland Magistrates Court on 6 January 2025.
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
