Rspca Takes Action

[BarbedWire]

Finally the RSPCA takes action but only because the dogs had no water or shelter. Legally their powers of prosecuting are limited I believe.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-25/canberra-woman-banned-from-owning-animals-for-10-years/6495568

Canberra woman banned from owning animals for 10 years, after dog ingested fish hooks

By Jordan Hayne

Posted 10 minutes ago

The white male Bullmastiff cross and a brown male Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the backyard of a Canberra home.

RELATED STORY: At least 160 animals found crowded into Canberra homeRELATED STORY: Puppy put down after beating, eight others abandoned

MAP: ACT

A Canberra woman has been banned from owning animals for 10 years, after her two dogs were seized by the RSPCA last year, one which had ingested fish hooks.

On Wednesday, the ACT Magistrate's Court imposed the ban along with a 12-month good behaviour order and a $123 fine.

In October last year, RSPCA staff were called to a property in Kambah to check on the welfare of two dogs.

RSPCA ACT chief executive Tammy Van Denge said a male Staffordshire bull terrier, or staffy, and a male bullmastiff cross were found living in squalid conditions.

"The place was full of rubbish and debris, there wasn't any water for the dogs," she said.

"The only shelter they had was basically underneath the house, and there was a small garden shed, but that was just full of rubbish as well."

After the dogs were seized by the RSPCA, the staffy began vomiting blood and was later found to have ingested fish hooks and small pieces of metal.

"They were starving... picture a puppy who was so hungry that he would be driven to eat fish hooks because it smelled like food. That's basically what we have here," Ms Van Denge said.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was found to have ingested fish hooks and small pieces of metal.

Ms Van Denge said the 10-year ban was one of the most severe bans she had seen imposed by a Canberra court.

"As far as we know [it's the longest], it's been fantastic to see that the court system is really getting behind it now," she said.

But she said the RSPCA was still pursuing changes to legislation that could see heftier fines, in order to cover the cost of caring for neglected animals.

Currently the RSPCA is not allowed to recoup costs from the animal's abusers.

"What we're not seeing still are significant court fines of any sort, not that some of these people would ever be able to pay for it," Ms Van Denge said.

"For the two dogs, just the medical costs alone cost us about $8,000.

"But I'm just pleased that within the current legislation... the magistrates are getting tougher."

Both of the neglected animals have been re-homed

The yard where they were kept

An x-ray of the one who ingested fish hooks.

Edited May 25, 2015 by sarsaparilla

[tdierikx]

ACT Magistrate's Court imposed the ban along with a 12-month good behaviour order and a $123 fine

Not much of a deterrent, is it? And what is actually going to stop this person getting another pet... are they going to monitor her for the next 10 years? Methinks not...

A slap on the wrist really...

T.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Does not match the crime, that's for sure, bloody scumbag.

[keetamouse]

I think her neighbours will keep an eye on her and report her if she gets any more dogs.

[Stressmagnet]

Not even a slap on the wrist. That's less than my weekly grocery bill.

I guess animals don't count.

[BarbedWire]

I think her neighbours will keep an eye on her and report her if she gets any more dogs.

Interesting K. I wonder who reported her in the first place. Should neighbours report neglect more often? I know I would report this. However I think the RSPCA's hands are tied.

Little story (I like telling little stories :) ) I had a neighbour who used to tether his cat on his front lawn. I was horrified because dogs were often loose in our street. I spoke to him and he was rude. (I guess I was rude too. I was very angry.) I reported it to the RSPCA and the inspector said there were no laws about cats being tethered but she went and spoke to him anyway. He said the cat was only tethered when he was outside with it which just wasn't true. I haven't seen it there recently. I wonder if a dog did get it. Poor cat!

I agree with others that the sentence was way too lenient.