Zlate Talevski admits act of cruelty against family dog
An Illawarra man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after his dog was found in a “terrible state of neglect” with infected tumours riddled through her body and her bones protruding. WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS.
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A man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after his dog was found in a “terrible state of neglect” with infected tumours riddled through her body and her bones protruding.
Zlate Talevski, 47, faced Wollongong Local Court on Thursday, after an RSPCA inspector found his female Staffordshire Bullterrier slumped against the side of his house, with her ribs, spine and hips protruding from her body.
Horrific photos of the animal’s neglected state were shown to the court on Thursday, after Talevski pleaded guilty to a single charge of committing an act of aggravated cruelty.
In documents tendered to the court, it was revealed the dog, which had been part of Talevski family for 13 years, had to be put down by a vet who deemed it “cruel” to keep her alive.
According to the documents, an RSPCA inspector first attended Talevski’s Barrack Heights residence on October 8 last year, after receiving cruelty complaints about a “skinny dog with big lumps on its belly”.
Upon arrival, the inspector saw the dog lying against the side of the house in the backyard.
After knocking on the door and finding no one was home, the inspector identified the dog as being “high risk” and went inside the yard.
As the inspector attempted to leave the yard with the dog on a lead, however she collapsed on the ground and had to be carried to his vehicle.
The dog was taken to the vet and seen by Dr Victoria Blake who noted it was “very clear” the dog had been neglected, suffering from tumour throughout her body.
The dog had a weight of just 12.7kg, when she should have weighed between 20 and 25 kgs.
Sadly, as a result of her very poor health, the dog was euthanized.
On October 14, the RSPCA inspector spoke with Talevski who said he noticed the dog had been losing weight for the past three months, as well as the growing lump on her belly, however didn’t seek treatment because he couldn’t afford the veterinary bills.
In court on Thursday, Talevski’s lawyer told the court his client was “devastated” by the situation, and didn’t take the dog to the vet because he was scared she’d never come home.
Magistrate Claire Girotto said the photos of the dog were “heartbreaking” and noted it was clear that the dog needed some form of medical attention.
“This wasn’t an active act of cruelty but seeing a dog in that condition … how could you not do something and let it die slowly,” she said.
“It’s terrible neglect, they must have seen what was happening to that poor dog”.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin argued a jail time was necessary for the crime, noting the dog’s “dramatic deterioration”.
Magistrate Girotto adjourned that matter for one week, however, so Talevski could undertake a pre-sentence report.
The matter will return to court on August 20.