In an agreed fact document tendered on sentence, the court heard that on Thursday, February 14, Bella (the female Poodle crossbreed dog) was presented to an RSPCA NSW veterinarian for euthanasia at the RSPCA NSW Sydney Veterinary Hospital.
Upon examining Bella, the veterinarian concluded that she was in such a poor physical condition that it was cruel to keep her alive. She was unable to sit, stand, or respond to any stimulus and was incontinent.
The dog was very underweight, with mature and juvenile maggots filling her right ear canal and also on her right eye and in her mouth.
The RSPCA NSW veterinarian contacted a RSPCA NSW inspector to examine Bella and video evidence of the dog’s poor condition was recorded before the Poodle crossbreed was humanely euthanised.
The woman said she had not noticed that the dog was losing weight because Bella had “so much hair” and that the dog’s condition “had just developed very quickly”.
RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers commented on the distressing nature of the case, saying: “Seeing any animal failed in such a serious manner is always difficult to witness. There is no excuse to allow animals entrusted in your care to live in continued pain and suffering.
“In the condition that the dog was presented, she would have struggled to eat, see, hear and move. It is your duty as a responsible pet owner, to provide adequate care for your animals, including making tough decisions with their welfare front of mind.”
