A 42-year-old Cooloongup man will face Rockingham Magistrates Court next month on two charges of animal cruelty.
On 14 January 2025, RSPCA WA received a report that the man’s Boxer was found deceased in a rubbish bin on the verge of his home.
It will be alleged he told inspectors that the 11-year-old dog had a wound on his leg that had been present for a month, becoming increasingly infected, resulting in pain, weakness and mobility issues.
It will further be alleged the accused said he had not sought vet treatment or help of any other kind and had given the dog 12 paracetamol tablets as a form of euthanasia, from which the dog took one and half days to die.
An RSPCA WA vet said, “At high doses (paracetamol) is toxic, it causes liver failure and methemoglobinemia (red blood cells can’t deliver oxygen to the tissues) … this dose of paracetamol is toxic to dogs and can cause death within the time frame given and the dog would have suffered significantly in the lead up to this death.”
RSPCA WA says further investigation confirmed the dog had had the injury since at least 3 October 2024.
The accused is due to appear in the Rockingham Magistrates Court on 15 May 2026.
He has been charged under sections 19(1), 19(2)(a) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
RSPCA WA alleges he intentionally poisoned the dog, and he allowed him to suffer harm which could have been alleviated by seeking vet treatment.
The maximum penalty for an animal cruelty conviction in Western Australia is a $50,000 fine and five years’ imprisonment.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report suspected cruelty and neglect. Reports can be made on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or online at rspcawa.org.au.
