A 61-year-old Reservoir woman has been convicted of two charges of animal cruelty at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on 16 October 2024.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectors attended the woman’s property after receiving an animal cruelty report from a member of the public, where they found an immobile, emaciated senior Border Collie in urgent need of veterinary attention with visible skin and ear irritations, and an injury on her nose.
When RSPCA Inspectors advised the woman her dog urgently needed veterinary attention, she surrendered the animal to RSPCA Victoria instead.
The dog was immediately transported to RSPCA Victoria for assessment by its expert veterinary team.
RSPCA Victoria veterinarian, Dr Kiki Raghavan, found the animal was unable to stand due to severe osteoarthritis, had visible infections on her nose and lips, severe dental disease, and severe yeast infections in both ears.
Dr Raghavan said the dog’s suffering was obvious and a lack of veterinary care was the primary cause behind the pain.
“It would have been evident to a layperson that the animal could not walk well and was unable to support her weight,” RSPCA Victoria’s Dr Raghavan said.
“She either was not offered enough food, could not get to the food offered her, or had such a severe underlying medical condition that she was losing weight despite eating”
“Lack of veterinary care directly led to the animal’s pain and suffering.”
The accused stated she did not believe the dog was suffering or in significant pain, however the presiding magistrate fined her $1,000 with conviction, and disqualified the woman from owning any dogs for 5 years.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate Chief Inspector Michelle Green welcomed the result and said senior pets do not deserve to live in suffering without treatment.
“All pets in Victoria deserve to live free from pain and suffering no matter their age,” Chief Inspector Green said.
“Pet owners must provide their animals with necessary veterinary attention and ensure they are getting the care and nutrition they need at every stage of life.”
“Preventative veterinary care could have saved this animal from extensive suffering during its senior years, and we hope this will remind people to look out for their animal’s needs before it’s too late.”
The relevant offences are covered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Anyone found guilty of cruelty offences can face fines of up to $49,397.50 or 12 months’ imprisonment.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/cruelty-report or by calling 03 9224 2222.
It’s estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $10.7 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.
