Springfield: Kelly Maree Dwyer pleads guilty to animal cruelty including burning dog’s scrotum with hazardous chemicals

A breeder has pleaded guilty to burning her dog’s scrotum by trying to use harsh chemicals to clean his enclosure. It comes as another woman is wanted for mistreating her two dogs.

Kelly Maree Dwyer, 43, of Springfield, outside Gosford Local Court with her solicitor after pleading guilty to failing to provide vet treatment and breaching the code of practice for dog breeders. Picture: NewsLocal

A breeder is facing fines and lengthy bans after repeat inspections by RSPCA officers found she failed to provide vet care for at least two of her dogs, including one with chemical burns to its scrotum, as well as other breaches of animal welfare practices.

It comes as an arrest warrant has been issued for another woman who was convicted of failing to provide vet treatment and tethering offences.

Kelly Maree Dwyer, 43, of Springfield faced Gosford Local Court last week where she pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to provide vet treatment to a male Spoodle designer breed dog named “Spikey” and a female Poodle named “Seaweed”.

She also pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to comply with animal welfare code of practice for breeders between December 2023 and February this year.

An agreed set of facts states RSPCA inspectors were called to her Lock Ave house on December 18 last year and found multiple dogs, including a litter of puppies, housed in various locations and small crates inside and outside.

The property at 25 Lock Ave, Springfield where dog breeder Kelly Maree Dwyer, 43, was found to have lots of dogs including two that required vet treatment such as a Spoodle that had chemical burns to its scrotum. Picture: Google

“Inside the house there was a strong smell of animal waste and ammonia to the point that inspectors found it difficult to breathe,” the facts state.

The inspectors issued Dwyer several direction notices to comply with the animal welfare code of practice for breeders as well as provide vet treatment for Seaweed found with pus in her eyes and poor overall condition.

Dwyer’s male Spoodle (similar to this one pictured in this file image) had chemical burns to its scrotum.

On January 20 the RSPCA received a further complaint about a male dog with chemical burns to its testicles and referred the complaint to police.

On January 23 RSPCA inspectors returned to the house and found the male Spoodle named Spikey with burns to his scrotum.

“She stated that it was caused when she was attempting to get rid of the urine smell by making a concoction of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, bicarb soda, lemongrass essential oil, dishwashing liquid and water which she used on his bed and around the house,” the facts state.

Dwyer told inspectors she put the dog back in his crate while his bed was still wet, which caused the burns, and then she tried to wash it off using dog shampoo before applying Betadine and manuka honey.

Dwyer told RSPCA inspectors she tried to treat the dog’s burns by applying manuka honey to its scrotum. (File image)

Inspectors examined the dog and noticed his testicles were “red and swollen, with areas of blackened skin” along with ulcerated burns to the pads of his feet.

“Inside the house the smell of ammonia mixed with the cleaning products made it almost impossible to breathe,” the facts state.

“There was no ventilation or open windows.

“A full breeder code inspection was completed and another litter of pups had been whelped since the previous visit.”

Inspectors seized “Spikey” and issued Dwyer further written directions to address several breaches of the breeder’s code of practice.

The facts state after repeat visits up to February 24 there were still breaches of various animal welfare practices and inspectors organised for Dwyer to attend a recorded interview at Gosford Police Station on March 11 but she failed to show.

The court heard the RSPCA is seeking orders that Dwyer surrender all animals in her care, be banned from owning or caring for an animal for two years and pay fines and costs of more that $4500.

Another woman was convicted in her absence for failing to provide vet treatment for a Dogue de Bordeaux. (File image)

Meanwhile the same court issued an arrest warrant for another woman, Elizabeth Rose Gallagher, 26, of Springfield, after she failed to appear and was convicted in her absence.

The woman was charged over her treatment of two dogs — an American Staffordshire Terrier and a Dogue de Bordeaux — including six counts of failing to provide vet treatment and one count each of tethering a dog for too long, tethering a dog on an unreasonably short leash and failing to provide it with water.