A White Gum Valley family was fined $5000 for animal cruelty Tuesday by the Fremantle Magistrates Court.
Giovanni, Maria and Julie Bassi were charged by the RSPCA for mistreating a seven-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu cross.
An inspector had found the bitch in appalling condition with badly matted fur and an open wound on its front right leg when he visited the home in May last year.
It was blind, severely emaciated and its nails so overgrown some had curled more than 360 degrees. It was infested with fleas and had odorous discharges from its ears and eyes.
A vet determined the dog had suffered a tremendous level of pain and required sedation. It was later euthanised.
The family had told the RSPCA inspector they hadn’t sought assistance for the dog because the vet was either shut or cost too much.
“This is a serious example of animal cruelty,” magistrate Robert Lawrence said.
RSPCA CEO David van Ooran was pleased with the fine.
“It sends a strong message to the community that pet ownership is a serious responsibility.”
by BRENDAN FOSTER
So very sad to think about the prolonged suffering endured by this animal. The cruel and neglected life this poor animal led whilst out of sight, would have had one very public characteristic; the animal was probably never walked, instead spending its life behind the gate.
This is the reality for most dogs in our society and is the first and most visible sign of cruelty for these animals. If only the RSPCA had campaigned hard in the last few decades to ensure that dog walking became part of mandatory legislation, this poor creature would not have been found in the advanced state of neglect after 7 years of blatant abuse. If mandatory dog walking laws were introduced, the neighbours could have raised the alarm about this poor dog years ago and saved it.