Shocking case of animal cruelty in Christie Downs, after starving dog left to partially eat another one

A woman has dodged jail time over an “extreme” case of animal cruelty, leaving two huskies alone in her backyard when she went away. Graphic content

An abandoned, starved dog ate part of another dog that died of emaciation in a shocking case of animal cruelty at Christie Downs.

The 31-year-old woman responsible for the animals’ care was spared jail time in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with animal cruelty after leaving her two Siberian huskies, both aged 10 months, while she went away.

An RSPCA SA inspector attended the Christie Downs property on September 28, 2019, in response to an animal cruelty report.

The inspector found the male dog deceased in the backyard, and its emaciated body partially eaten.

The surviving, emaciated dog, Stormy. Picture: RSPCA

The surviving female was severely emaciated, and had consumed part of the other huskie’s body in desperation.

RSPCA inspectors say the dogs would not have received adequate nutrition for at least two weeks before inspectors visited the property.

The woman told the inspector she had gone away for a few days without arranging any care for the dogs in her absence.

She said she had put out a bowl of dog food as well as a container with water, but the inspectors were unable to locate both at the property.

The woman was convicted of two counts of ill treatment of an animal and two counts of abandonment, and handed a three-month-and-two-week prison term, which was suspended.

She was banned from owning animals in the future.

Stormy, the surviving dog, recovered in the care of the RSPCA and was rehomed in November 2019.

Stormy in her new home. Picture: supplied

The owner of two dogs, one found dead and partly eaten, and the other severely emaciated, has been handed a suspended sentence in a shocking case of animal cruelty. Picture: RSPCA

RSPCA chief inspector Andrea Lewis said the case was an example of people taking on dogs with no acknowledgment of their responsibilities.

“It is totally unacceptable to go away and make no provision for the care of your animals,” Ms Lewis said.

“This is an extreme case of neglect, with tragic consequences. and begs the question of why this person chose to have dogs in the first place, especially dogs of this breed with their high-care needs in terms of grooming, exercise and diet.”