A 51-year-old Melville man has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty after allegedly beating his pet Chihuahua to ‘stop the dog from biting him’.
RSPCA WA will allege a witness heard the dog yelping and squealing and observed the accused slamming the dog into the arm of a chair in October last year.
It will further be alleged the accused was seen slamming the dog into an armchair several times. Thuds, yelps and banging were all reported to RSPCA WA and WA Police.
Shortly after the alleged beating, the accused was reportedly seen carrying the dog to his car inside a brown-coloured blanket or jacket. The dog’s legs were hanging down and slightly curled.
A WA Police Constable attended the accused’s property that evening and seized the dog due to suspected offences under Part 3 of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. The accused said he was only trying to stop the dog from biting him.
The dog was transported to The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University for assessment and treatment. He had to be sedated as he was exhibiting severe behavioural reactions thought to be a result of severe fear. The dog was suffering from bruising to his left ear, abnormal redness with some areas of alopecia and crusting lesions on his neck and stomach area, and two fractured teeth.
He was transported to RSPCA WA where he was further examined and he was found to also be suffering from a mid-vertebral fracture in his tail, with moderate fracture displacement and soft tissue swelling.
RSPCA WA inspectors attended the accused’s property to gather information from him and provide him with paperwork to confirm the dog had been seized. He refused to give the inspector personal details as required.
The dog continues to recover at the Malaga Animal Care Centre. A veterinary behavioural specialist examined the dog and concluded his severe behavioural reactions demonstrated he had been ill-treated and subsequently lost trust in human interactions.
The accused was charged under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA alleges he was cruel to the Chihuahua by ill-treating him.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
He was also charged under section 46(2) of the Act for failing to provide his date of birth to an inspector. The maximum penalty is $2000.
The accused will appear in Fremantle Magistrates Court on 25 February.
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.
