RSPCA charge Embleton couple with animal cruelty after elderly dog left unable to eat

A 55-year-old man and 49-year-old woman have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly leaving their elderly dog to suffer from a growth on his tongue that stopped him eating properly.

In June 2023, the RSPCA received a cruelty report about a Japanese spitz dog at an Embleton home that appeared very unwell and frothing at the mouth.

An RSPCA WA inspector found the dog was in a poor and underweight condition, with blood-tinged saliva and pus dripping from his mouth.

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His coat was extremely dirty and he was lying on a mouldy dog bed.

The accused woman allegedly told the inspector the dog was “just getting old”.

The dog was seized and taken to an emergency vet, who found the dog’s tongue was immobile due to the growth on his tongue and necrosis, he was severely emaciated with a body score of two out of nine, and he had a mass on his anus.

The following day, while under general anaesthetic at the RSPCA in Malaga, the dog stopped breathing and died.

The man and woman have been charged under sections 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. RSPCA WA allege they were both cruel to an animal by allowing the dog to suffer harm which could have been alleviated by taking reasonable steps.

They are scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on November 24.

The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.

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.