Attributable to Michael Stagg, Chief Inspector, RSPCA Victoria

Today the case of Stipo Cicak, who kicked a dog at a protest in 2021, was finalised at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in an online hearing on the sixth day of the proceedings after last week being found guilty under Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA) of committing an act of cruelty toward an animal. Today The Magistrate ordered Mr Cicak to make a donation in the sum of $2000.00 to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, to pay RSPCA Victoria’s court costs of $7000.00 as well as placing him on an undertaking to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

The Magistrate acknowledged that the dog would have been shocked and felt pain and people should not lash out at defenceless animals. RSPCA Victoria takes every incident of animal cruelty seriously and will work to hold all perpetrators to account.

While RSPCA Victoria acknowledges that the sentencing outcome may have been disappointing to members of the community, we respect the decision of the court. We also acknowledge the current work of the Victorian Government to replace the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 with contemporary animal welfare legislation that will reflect the community’s expectation that animal cruelty offenders should be held to account.