A New Norfolk man has been convicted of animal cruelty after repeatedly refusing to seek proper veterinary treatment for his dog who endured months of suffering with a significant leg fracture.
The Hobart Magistrates Court heard last month that ‘Tika’ the American Staffordshire Terrier had been left with an untreated fracture of her left hind leg for months.
While the owner claimed financial constraints as justification for his neglect, the court rejected this defence, noting that he had been presented with several alternatives including surrendering the animal for proper care.
The RSPCA first received a cruelty complaint about the dog’s condition in August 2023, with the owner claiming Tika had a sore leg and had been seen at a local veterinary clinic.
However, veterinary records showed the dog was treated on multiple occasions in November 2022, April 2023 and June 2023 for the same leg injury.
In June 2023, the vet confirmed a fractured shin and instructed the owner in about the need for surgery.
Despite being offered multiple options, including euthanasia to end Tika’s suffering, surrender for rehoming after surgery or amputation, the owner took no action.
He subsequently ignored an RSPCA instruction notice to seek veterinary care, forcing authorities to seize Tika in August 2023 and ultimately amputate her leg.
The RSPCA said the dog “would have experienced months of chronic pain which was prolonged by the owner’s failure to provide medical treatment”.
The man was sentenced to one month in prison, suspended for 18 months on condition that he commit no further offences.
The court also ordered that Tika not be returned to her owner and imposed a five-year disqualification from owning any dogs.
