Image: (left) Karma when seized (20 August 2021), and right, in her new home, August 2023.
A long-running case involving a 28-year-old woman charged with starving her dog to the point of emaciation finalised in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today, with the defendant convicted of an animal ill-treatment offence.
An RSPCA SA inspector attended at a northern suburbs property on 20 August 2021 in response to a report regarding two emaciated dogs. The defendant’s brother was home at the time, and showed the inspector through to the rear yard to inspect the condition of the dogs. The three-year-old male and five-year-old female American Staffordshire Bull Terriers were extremely underweight, with ribs, hips and spines all very prominent.
The inspector spoke with the defendant on the phone, with the latter insisting she had been feeding the dogs and that she thought their poor condition was due to the dogs being unwell. Concerned for their welfare, the inspector seized both dogs and transported them to RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter where they were examined by an RSPCA veterinarian.
Both dogs were given body condition scores (BCS) of 1 out of 9, indicating emaciation, with the diagnosis being that it was likely caused by malnutrition. Placed on careful refeeding plans, both dogs steadily gained weight. Within five months the body weight of the female dog, named Karma, had increased by nearly 60% to a healthy 24.4kg. The body weight of the male dog, named Sarge, nearly doubled within less than three months to reach 20.9kg.
The defendant failed to attend court on several occasions, resulting in a warrant being issued for her arrest on 8 August 2022. At the same hearing, Magistrate David White ordered that the dogs be forfeited permanently to RSPCA. This enabled the female dog, Karma, to be successfully rehomed.
Despite extensive behavioural modification attempts, the male dog (Sarge) was deemed unsafe to rehome due to aggressive behaviour and was humanely euthanased.
In the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today, the defendant plead guilty to failing to provide adequate and appropriate food for Karma. Magistrate Kate White sentenced the defendant to a two-year good behaviour bond but was prevented by section 120 of the Sentencing Act from awarding costs for the dogs’ care to RSPCA SA due to the defendant’s proven lack of capacity to pay.
Addressing the defendant, Her Honour said “You take on a substantial responsibility when you have a pet as they cannot care for themselves.
“There is great scope for pets to suffer when people do not act responsibly and mistreatment of an animal will not be tolerated.”
The defendant is prohibited from having custody or care of any animals for ten years.
Under SA’s Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or two years’ imprisonment. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is $50,000 or four years’ imprisonment.
RSPCA South Australia is the state’s only animal welfare charity with inspectors empowered to prosecute animal cruelty under SA’s Animal Welfare Act.
Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722.
