A 34-year-old Perth man has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly left a Staffy crossbreed dog locked in a laundry for at least four days, without access to adequate food or water.
RSPCA WA received a report from WA Police in June about a skinny dog locked in one room at a property in Koondoola.
The dog was living with the accused’s mother who had been admitted to hospital. The accused had assured police he would look after the dog in his mother’s absence, however, checks by an RSPCA WA inspector showed the dog remained in the laundry with a tin of unopened dog food on the washing machine and an empty bucket lying on its side.
Several attempts by the inspector to reach the accused proved unsuccessful so the dog was seized. The laundry floor and the dog were covered in urine and faeces. There were some dog biscuits on the ground among the waste.
The accused has been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(d) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA will allege the accused was cruel to an animal in that he did not provide the dog with sufficient food and water.
The charges will be heard in Perth Magistrates Court on 15 September 2023.
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
