A 39-year-old woman has been fined $5000 after her Rottweiler puppy was found by a City of Belmont ranger with a deep wound from his collar which was too tight.
Perth Magistrates Court on Friday heard RSPCA WA received an urgent call from the ranger in
April regarding the male puppy named Fluffy, found at a Redcliffe property, who appeared to have an open, pus-filled laceration to his throat.
An inspector attended the property where the offender refused to allow her to see the 14-week-old dog and actively hindered the inspector from examining the dog. The inspector subsequently obtained an urgent warrant to enter the house. She seized Fluffy and took him to Perth Vet Emergency for immediate assessment and treatment. The vet found his collar was so small and constricting that it had started to embed into his neck around his throat.
This had caused a deep and open wound which was approximately two centimetres deep and 10 centimetres long. The vet noted his pain score as 3/4. He underwent emergency surgery to remove the collar and it was found he had severe cellulitis, an infection, and a fever.
Fluffy has made a full recovery in foster care.
In sentencing, Magistrate Sarah Wisbey said as a result of the offender's inaction, Fluffy was in a "dire situation". "It would have been clear to anyone that this puppy was suffering from a serious injury and required treatment," she said. "…this was not a single isolated act, but a behaviour amounting to a course of conduct…it was persistent and serious neglect over a sustained period of time."
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said Fluffy's case was a clear example of neglect. "At Fluffy's young age he relied totally on the offender caring for him and keeping him out of harm's way, but she failed him. Thankfully, our vets and animal attendants were able to heal him back to full health, but this could have turned into a grave situation," she said.
The offender was sentenced under sections 19(1), 19(3)(h) and 77(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA argued the offender was cruel to an animal in that Fluffy suffered harm which could have been alleviated by her taking reasonable steps. The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. She was also sentenced for hindering the inspector which carries a maximum
penalty of a $20,000 fine and one year imprisonment.
In addition to the fine relating to the cruelty offence, the offender was also fined $500 for obstructing an inspector, ordered to forfeit the puppy, was banned from owning an animal for five years, and ordered to pay $4,529 in legal and other costs.
RSPCA WA thanked Doug Johnson from Francis Burt Chambers and the City of Belmont ranger for their assistance in this matter.
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
