A 64-year-old man and his 28-year-old daughter from Davoren Park were convicted in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today on two charges of ill-treatment of an animal.
The charges were in relation to two toy poodles found suffering serious, untreated medical conditions, with one of the dogs being humanely euthanised due to the extent of
neglect he had endured.
RSPCA South Australia received a cruelty report on 21 July 2023 in relation to a five-year old toy poodle named Dexter who had been brought to a veterinary clinic with extreme signs of neglect. The dog required sedation due to pain before the vet could examine him. The veterinary examination revealed that all four of Dexter’s legs were strangulated with matted fur. One of his front paws was swollen and necrotic where matted fur had cut through to the bone.
Most of the dog’s teeth had fallen out, with many of his few remaining teeth falling out at the slightest touch during the examination. A large hernia in Dexter’s abdomen was
attributed to the physical trauma his small body had endured. The prognosis for the dog was so poor that euthanasia was the only humane option.
RSPCA SA inspectors accompanied by SA Police attended at the defendants’ Davoren Park property to investigate the matter further at which time they observed a second toy poodle named Teddy. When the male defendant placed Teddy on the ground, the dog stumbled before falling over. Inspectors observed that Teddy had badly matted fur and a discharge coming from both of his ears. The male defendant stated that Teddy had “seepage” coming from his ears for the last two months.
An RSPCA SA inspector examined the 12-year-old dog and found him to be matted and missing teeth, with open and infected holes where his teeth had been. The dog was continually shaking his head, and his ears stank and oozed pus. The defendants agreed to surrender the dog, and he was taken for veterinary examination and treatment at RSPCA SA’s now closed Lonsdale shelter.
The examining RSPCA SA vet reported the toy poodle was in excruciating pain from his chronic ear infections. The elderly dog also had holes between his nose and mouth where
the upper canines had been, which required surgery to close so that food did not go uphis nose. Underneath his flea-ridden, dreadlocked coat, Teddy was also under-weight and found to have untreated heart disease.
Teddy required multiple anaesthetics, extensive medical care, and months of recovery in foster care before he was well enough to be adopted. He found a new home with his final foster carer on 23 July 2024.
In the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today, Magistrate Lana Chester sentenced each defendant to a jail term of three months and 15 days, suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond. Both defendants were further prohibited from owning any animals until further order, with the exemption of two cats and a parrot which were owned by another relative at the same property and did not have welfare concerns when observed by RSPCA SA inspectors.
Her Honour said “Animals are defenceless, vulnerable beings entirely reliant upon their humans for food, shelter and care.” She further observed that the offending was at the higher end of seriousness as the condition of the deceased canine, Dexter, would have taken a considerable amount of time to progress to the state he was found in. In sentencing Magistrate Chester highlighted the plight of the animal, agreeing with the RSPCA submission that “Dexter would have suffered in considerable pain”.
RSPCA SA Chief Inspector Andrew Baker described the case as an example of complete failure to recognise an animal’s needs. “It is extremely disturbing that no-one in this household thought to ensure these two dogs were having their basic health needs met,” Inspector Baker said.
“No-one was washing them, no-one was grooming them, no-one seemed to even be aware of the suffering happening right in front of them.
“We urge people to not acquire an animal without first understanding and committing to the time and money required to maintain their health and overall wellbeing.”
