Beckenham woman convicted by Perth Magistrates Court for ‘abhorrent’ abuse of one-year-old puppy
A Beckenham woman has been found guilty of “evil” animal cruelty after strangling and beating a one-year-old puppy last year.
The 23-year-old was given a suspended sentence of six months and 14 days in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. Conditionally suspended for 12 months due to supervision and program requirements.
He was also banned from keeping animals 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 his dog Roxy barking.
The witness reportedly heard loud noises as the offender repeatedly hit the Staffy X Kelpie puppy and then squealed and screamed. Roxy was later seen in the backyard tied to a garage pole with a rope around her neck.
The witness filmed some of the abuse on his mobile phone, showing the attacker standing over the “lifeless” Roxy, who was struggling to breathe and making choking noises.
The criminal then reportedly put a second rope around Roxy’s neck to strangle her repeatedly. The woman applied great force, lifting Roxy off the ground and hanging her by the neck as she tried to escape. Later recordings recorded continued screaming, choking, and labored breathing.
When interviewed by the police, the criminal claimed that he wanted to get rid of Roxy because she was “trampling on all my bullshit” and disappointing him.
He was convicted under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. It is revealed that he acted cruelly towards Roxy by torturing her, maliciously beating her, harassing her, and otherwise mistreating her.
During Thursday’s sentencing, Judge Michelle Harries accepted arguments from the RSPCA WA prosecutor that it was an “evil”, “sustained” and “inexplicable” example of cruelty.
Ms Harries described the behavior as “disgusting”.
“In my opinion, the facts are serious… Facts that you should be very ashamed of,” he said.
Roxy was seized by RSPCA WA inspectors on the morning of the attack. During the veterinary examination, bruising, swelling, bleeding and behavior consistent with psychological harm were detected in his right eye.
Roxy recovered in the care of the RSPCA and has since been adopted.
RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green said the case was a shocking example of deliberate and sustained abuse.
“It’s very difficult to think about the terror and pain Roxy went through for so long that morning,” he said.
“One-year-old dogs will naturally chew on items left around, especially those that have not been given the time and patience required for effective training and the necessary love and attention to prevent them from becoming bored.
“Using this as justification for torturing an animal – because that is exactly what this criminal did – defies all logic and logic.”
The maximum penalty for animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The RSPCA is urging everyone to report suspected cases of animal cruelty and neglect on 1300 278 358 or online at: rspcawa.org.au.
