A male, aged 35 from South Melbourne was found guilty at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 23 January 2026 on one count of failing to provide veterinary attention to his Staffordshire terrier-type dog under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1986).
RSPCA Victoria Inspectors attended a South Melbourne premises finding a dog recumbent with an obvious and ulcerated mass on its right flank.
The dog appeared emaciated, depressed and reluctant to move, with stiff hind legs, and a mass on its flank oozing a blood-stained discharge with a strong, putrid infection smell detected.
The accused acknowledged being the dog’s owner and caretaker, and that no veterinary assistance had been obtained in the past year, with no immediate care planned.
Following a refusal to surrender or treat the dog, RSPCA Inspectors seized it for urgent assessment, transportation to an RSPCA Victoria Veterinary clinic.
The RSPCA Victoria Veterinarian’s report determined the failure to provide the dog earlier veterinary intervention was unacceptable and contributed to a prolonged and unnecessary suffering.
“The dog was clearly emaciated and presented with a range of health concerns, most notably being the large infected ulcerated mass covering its right flank,” the veterinarian said.
“The large open ulcerated mass, likely a squamous cell carcinoma, would have grown over months and should have been surgically removed when smaller, or managed medically to maintain an adequate quality of life.”
Magistrate Gilligan sentenced the accused to 250 hours of unpaid community work, ordered payment of $1,700 in veterinary costs, and disqualified him for three years from being in charge of any dog.
“This dog was clearly suffering, it is unacceptable,” Magistrate Gilligan commented.
RSPCA Victoria’s Chief Inspector, Michelle Green, said it is appalling and inhumane to neglect obvious and basic care obligations.
“This dog was in obvious and dire need of urgent medical attention,” Chief Inspector Green said.
“The owner’s neglectful failure to act resulted in a devastating deterioration of health causing an unacceptably prolonged period of suffering.”
“Pet owners have a duty of care to the animals they are responsible for, and this includes providing appropriate care and veterinary treatment.”
The relevant offences fall under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, and anyone found guilty of cruelty offences can face fines of up to $50,877.50 or 12-months’ imprisonment.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of animals is urged to make a report to RSPCA Victoria at rspcavic.org/who-to-call or by calling 03 9224 2222.
It’s estimated it will cost RSPCA Victoria more than $12.8 million to operate the Inspectorate this financial year.
