Source : Perth Now news
A Beckenham woman has been convicted of “wicked” animal cruelty after choking and beating a one-year-old puppy last year.
The 23-year-old received a suspended sentence of six months and 14 days in prison at the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. It was conditionally suspended for 12 months, with supervision and program requirements.
She has also been banned from being in charge of an animal for five years.
RSPCA WA and WA Police attended the offender’s property on the morning of October 13 last year after being contacted by a witness who heard her dog, Roxy, yelping.
The witness reportedly heard thumping sounds as the offender repeatedly hit the Staffy X Kelpie puppy, followed by yelping and screaming. Roxy was then seen in the backyard with a rope around her neck, tied to the pole of a carport.
The witness filmed some of the abuse on a mobile phone, showing the offender standing over a “lifeless” Roxy, who was heard struggling to breathe and making choking sounds.
The offender then reportedly put a second rope around Roxy’s neck to repeatedly strangle her. The woman applied significant force, lifting Roxy off the ground and suspending her by the neck as she tried to escape. Further recordings captured ongoing screaming, choking and laboured breathing.
When interviewed by police, the offender claimed she wanted to get rid of Roxy because she was “chewing up all my shit” and frustrating her.
She was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. She was found to have been cruel to Roxy by torturing, maliciously beating, abusing and otherwise ill-treating her.
During Thursday’s sentencing, Magistrate Michelle Harries accepted the RSPCA WA prosecutor’s submissions that this was an example of “wicked”, “sustained” and “inexplicable” cruelty.
Ms Harries described the behaviour as “abhorrent”.
“The facts are in my view serious … They are facts you should be very ashamed of,” she said.
Roxy was seized by RSPCA WA inspectors on the morning of the offence. Veterinary examinations revealed bruising, swelling, bleeding in her right eye, and behaviour consistent with psychological harm.
Roxy recovered in the RSPCA’s care and has since been adopted.
RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green said the case was a shocking example of deliberate, sustained abuse.
“It’s overwhelming to think of the terror and pain Roxy experienced over an extended period of time that morning,” she said.
“One-year-old dogs, especially those who aren’t given the time and patience needed for effective training, and the love and attention required to stop them from becoming bored, will naturally chew items left lying around.
“To use that as a justification for torturing an animal — because that’s exactly what this offender did — defies all logic and reason.”
The maximum penalty for a conviction of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The RSPCA urges everyone to report incidents of suspected animal cruelty and neglect to 1300 278 358 or online at rspcawa.org.au.
