A 25-year-old Bunbury man has received a one-year ban from owning a pet, and been ordered to undertake counselling, after leaving his dog to suffer serious hunting wounds untreated.
The counselling forms part of a 12-month community-based order handed down in Bunbury Magistrates Court today, which also includes 20 hours of community service.
The offender, who was found guilty at an earlier date, will be required to pay court and care costs totalling $6035.55 to the RSPCA.
An RSPCA WA inspector attender the offender’s home in Withers in January 2022. She found Jacko, a three-year-old Kangaroo crossbreed dog, in a small wire cage at the back of the house.
He had a large wound across his right chest, shoulder and leg which had been stapled shut but was opening and oozing blood.
Jacko’s owner told the inspector and a City of Bunbury ranger that Jacko had been injured by a kangaroo the night before while he was out hunting with the dog.
He admitted to stapling the wound closed himself without using pain relief, something he also admitted to doing on previous occasions when Jacko had been injured.
The inspector seized the dog, who was visibly limping and hunched over. She noticed his eye was also swollen and his body was covered in scratches and cuts.
Jacko was taken to a local vet who advised that, due to the severity of his condition and injury, amputation of his front leg was the most humane option.
After surgery, Jacko was taken to RSPCA WA’s Animal Care Centre in Malaga. His ownership has been forfeited to RSPCA WA and he continues to recover in foster care.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said DIY medical care was not a replacement for proper veterinary treatment.
‘Jacko was clearly in pain—anyone could see that—and to only receive a few rough and ready staples with no pain relief as treatment is not OK,’ Ms Green said.
‘He needed urgent medical attention; in fact, the wound was so bad his leg needed amputating.
‘It is an offence not to get your animals the care they need. It is an offence to let them suffer unnecessarily.’
The offender was convicted under sections 19 (1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 for failing to alleviate harm to his dog by not seeking vet care for Jacko’s injuries.
Ms Green thanked Bunbury rangers and Bunbury and Eaton Vet Clinic for their assistance with the case.
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 online here.
