A 34-year-old Port Kennedy woman has been fined $8000 and banned from owning pets for 10 years after leaving her dog and cat unattended at her home for over a week.
In February this year, RSPCA WA were called out to the property after receiving a cruelty report about a dog that had been left alone at the house for around 36 hours.
The address was known to the RSPCA after they had received similar prior cruelty reports.
In January, the woman was asked to let an RSPCA inspector know the name and contact details of the person organised to look after her animals if she were to go away again.
She did not in this instance.
When an inspector arrived at the property she saw a white cat named Flash inside without access to food or water.
She lowered water and food to the cat through a partially opened window.
Using a ladder, the inspector then entered the backyard and was approached by a one-year-old tan and white American Staffy named Adonis.
Adonis was reported to be in reasonable condition but the outline of his ribs were just visible.
The inspector and other RSPCA staff members continued to return to the property to feed the animals over the following days and saw no evidence the offender had returned.
A warrant was obtained to enter the house with the help of a locksmith and both Flash and Adonis were seized.
Both remain in the care of the RSPCA.
The offender told the inspector she had been going to the house to attend to the animals, but she’d been getting in through a window because the door was inexplicably locked.
RSPCA WA deemed the explanation implausible.
In sentencing, Magistrate Brian Mahon said Flash and Adonis experienced "absolutely unnecessarily a situation of neglect".
"Without intervention over a number of days by the RSPCA, they may not have made it.
“You enter into pet ownership voluntarily … you accept the responsibility. (The offender) was aware of her situation and overlooked her obligations.”
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the sentencing sent a strong message about the responsibilities associated with pet ownership.
“You can’t just walk away and leave your animals without the care they need; owners have an obligation to make sure their pets are properly looked after at all times, in all circumstances.”
In addition to the $8000 in fines, the offender was also ordered to pay $2536 in in costs and had her ownership of Flash and Adonis forfeited.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect.
Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au
Adonis in the care of the RSPCA. PIC:RSPCA WA
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