RSPCA WA charge Geraldton woman, 35, with animal cruelty, claiming she left dogs with insufficient food, water

A 35-year-old Geraldton woman is accused of animal cruelty after she allegedly abandoned three dogs locked in her home without adequate food or water for up to three days. RSPCA WA has charged the woman from Spalding and have seized the dogs — a male Jack Russell and two female terriers — after she allegedly refused to surrender them. A RSPCA spokesperson said the male dog was found to be anaemic and suffering from a painful chronic skin disease, while the two female dogs were both malnourished. She is accused of being cruel by not seeking vet treatment and not providing sufficient food or water. According to the RSPCA, an animal cruelty report was received in October last year, and a City of Greater Geraldton ranger visited the house to check on the dogs’ welfare. The ranger heard barking and smelt a strong odour coming from inside the house, but couldn’t see the dogs. After the accused woman could not be reached by phone, the ranger returned to the property the next day and was able to see the dogs this time. The RSPCA says the ranger observed two of the dogs appearing to be very underweight and another with an apparent skin condition, as well as a build-up of dog faeces and urine. The ranger poured water through a hole in the screen door after she could not see any food or water available for the dogs, the RSCPA said. The animal welfare organisation obtained an urgent warrant to enter the property and when they did inspectors noted “there was no food or water available to the dogs and there was a large build-up of dog faeces and dried urine throughout the house which appeared to have not been cleaned in weeks”. The RSPCA stated there were no signs anyone was living in the home, while the accused woman told inspectors she had not been at the property for four days but claimed to have left food and water for the dogs. “She advised one of the female dogs was underweight because she had had a litter of puppies and the accused had not wormed her,” a RSPCA spokesperson said. The woman is set to appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on March 24. The three dogs remain in the care of the RSPCA. The maximum penalty for animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. People can report suspected animal cruelty and neglect 24/7 to 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au