Mount Gambier woman sentenced after starving dogs, refusing to take them to vet

An SA woman has been sentenced in court after starving her six dogs – and refusing to take them to a vet after an RSPCA warning.

A woman from the state’s South-East has been sentenced after starving her six pet dogs and refusing to take them to a vet.

Melissa Dowdy, 38, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Thursday after a 2023 RSPCA SA investigation.

Inspectors urged her to seek treatment for her dogs – but she did not do so until they asked a second time.

Dowdy, of Mount Gambier, pleaded guilty to six counts of ill treatment of an animal.

During sentencing, Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said “no one has the right to ill-treat animals”.

“When someone is unable to even take care of themselves, they are also unable to take care of their animals,” Ms Kossiavelos said.

BEFORE: One of the dogs when they were seized from the property. Picture: RSPCA SA

AFTER: The dogs have now made full recoveries and have been rehomed. Picture: RSPCA SA

“The RSPCA’s costs are a real cost to the community. You have put the community to these costs as the RSPCA is reliant on donations to make up that cost.”

An RSPCA SA inspector attended at the woman’s Mount Gambier property on August 22, 2023, and sighted numerous dogs at the property in emaciated body conditions.

The court heard Dowdy was given verbal instruction to have two dogs seen by a vet within a specified time frame, but refused to. She was then issued with a written animal welfare notice to have them taken to a vet, which she complied with.

The vet clinic created a feeding plan for the dogs and instructed Dowdy to bring the dogs for weekly appointments for the next four weeks, to check on progress with their weight gain. However, the court heard she failed to attend further appointments.

In October, the RSPCA SA inspector attended her property with a police officer and found the dogs still “in very poor body condition”, with visible hips, ribs and spines. The dogs were each given a body condition score of 2/9.

One of the dogs after being seized by the RSPCA. Picture: RSPCA SA

The same dog after treatment and being rehomed. Picture: RSPCA SA

On Thursday, Ms Kossiavelos jailed Dowdy for five months and one week – suspended upon entering into an 18-month good behaviour bond.

Under SA’s Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or two years’ jail. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is $50,000 or four years’ jail.

Dowdy was also prohibited from owning any animals until further order.